Bob Bowman (coach)
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Bob Bowman is an American swimming coach. He is currently the head coach of Club Wolverine and the University of Michigan. He was the eighth head coach in the history of the University of Michigan Swimming Men's program, which he took over in 2005. In April 2008, Bob Bowman and the University of Michigan Swimming announced that Bowman would conclude his coaching tenure at Michigan at the end of the 2008 US Olympic Swim Trials and return to North Baltimore after the Beijing Olympics.[1] [2]
Personal life
Bowman was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina where he attended Columbia High School.
Coaching career
In 1986-87, Bowman was the head age group coach at the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club and also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater Florida State University. Bowman swam for the Seminoles from 1983-85, serving as a team captain in his final year. Bowman graduated from Florida State with a bachelor of science degree in developmental psychology and a minor in music composition in 1987.
Bowman held assistant coaching positions with the Napa Valley swim team (1991-92), the Cincinnati Pepsi Marlins (1990-91) and the Las Vegas Gold swim team (1988-90).
Bowman was also the head coach and program director for the Birmingham Swim League from 1992-94. While with the Birmingham Swim League, he was responsible for program design, staff development and daily operation of a 250-member club. Under his supervision, BSL improved to a top five program regionally after finishing out of the top 20 the previous 10 years.
From 1994-96, Bowman served as head coach for the Napa Valley swim team. There he was responsible for an elite senior program including U.S. National 'A', 'B' and National Junior Team members. Under Bowman's watch, Napa Valley won six gold, two silver and two bronze medals in international competition.
Bowman held the position of senior coach at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club from 1996-99. During his tenure in Baltimore, Bowman helped to produce three individual national champions, 10 national finalists and five U.S. National Team members. In recognition of his accomplishments with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, Bowman was honored with the USA Swimming and the American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year Awards in 2001 and 2003. He was also named the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year in 2002.
Bowman served for nine years at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He was the high performance coach from 1999 to 2004, working directly with the senior elite performance group including Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Under Bowman's tutelage at the North Baltimore Aquatic club, Phelps won five World Championship gold medals and was named the American Swimmer of the Year in 2001 and 2003.
Bowman was named as an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, serving as the primary coach for Michael Phelps. At the 2004 Games, Bowman helped coach Phelps to eight medals, including six gold medals and two bronze. Bowman's distant cousin Andrew Bowman who lives in Mt. Prospect, Illinois is also a nationally known swimmer.[citation needed]