Bob Bowman (coach)
Encyclopedia
Bob Bowman is an American
swimming
coach, who is the coach of Michael Phelps
. From 2005-2008, he was the head coach
for the University of Michigan
men's swimming & diving team, replacing Jon Urbanchek
; as well as the head coach for the club team based at the school: Club Wolverine. He was the eighth men's head coach in the history of the University of Michigan Swimming
program. As of September 2008, he is the CEO/Head Coach for North Baltimore Aquatic Club
.
In April 2008, Bowman and the University announced that he would conclude his coaching tenure at Michigan at the end of the 2008 USA Olympic Swim Trials (July 2008) and return to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club
after the Beijing Olympics
.
where he attended Columbia High School
.
Bowman has a younger sister, Donna Bowman, who works at Chapin High School as a Career and Technology Education Teacher.
. 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. While at Florida State, Bowman was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
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.
Prior to becoming the Men's Head Coach at Michigan, Bowman coaches for nine years (1996–2004) at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club
(NBAC), in Baltimore, Maryland. From 1996-1999 he held the position of senior coach; and from 1999-2004 he was NBAC's High Performance Coach. During his tenure in Baltimore, Bowman helped to produce 3 individual national champions, 10 national finalists and 5 USA National Team members. In recognition of his accomplishments, Bowman was named the USA's Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003. He was also named Developmental Coach of the Year in 2002.
It was also during his work at NBAC that Bowman began coaching 14-time 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.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he coached Michael Phelps
to achieve 8 Olympic Gold Medals, which has never been done before in a single Olympics.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
coach, who is the coach of Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
. From 2005-2008, he was the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
men's swimming & diving team, replacing Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek
Jon Urbanchek is an American swimming coach, best known for his 22-year tenure as the Men's Swimming & Diving Head Coach for the University of Michigan...
; as well as the head coach for the club team based at the school: Club Wolverine. He was the eighth men's head coach in the history of the University of Michigan Swimming
University of Michigan swimming
-History:The University of Michigan Men's Swimming program began in 1921 and has had nine coaches in its history. The current coach is Mike Bottom, who took over the helm from Bob Bowman in 2008...
program. As of September 2008, he is the CEO/Head Coach for North Baltimore Aquatic Club
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
The North Baltimore Aquatic Club is an amateur swim club based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1968, it continues to offer training for young swimmers. It is best known for developing seven Olympic gold medal swimmers.-Facilities:...
.
In April 2008, Bowman and the University announced that he would conclude his coaching tenure at Michigan at the end of the 2008 USA Olympic Swim Trials (July 2008) and return to the North Baltimore Aquatic Club
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
The North Baltimore Aquatic Club is an amateur swim club based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1968, it continues to offer training for young swimmers. It is best known for developing seven Olympic gold medal swimmers.-Facilities:...
after the Beijing Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
Personal life
Bowman was born and raised in Columbia, South CarolinaColumbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
where he attended Columbia High School
Columbia High School (Columbia, South Carolina)
Columbia High School is a four year public high school in the St. Andrews area of Columbia, South Carolina, and the oldest existing high school in Columbia. The school's first date as a public school is listed as December 1884...
.
Bowman has a younger sister, Donna Bowman, who works at Chapin High School as a Career and Technology Education Teacher.
Coaching career
In 1986-87, Bowman was a coach at the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club and also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. 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. While at Florida State, Bowman was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
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.
Prior to becoming the Men's Head Coach at Michigan, Bowman coaches for nine years (1996–2004) at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club
North Baltimore Aquatic Club
The North Baltimore Aquatic Club is an amateur swim club based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1968, it continues to offer training for young swimmers. It is best known for developing seven Olympic gold medal swimmers.-Facilities:...
(NBAC), in Baltimore, Maryland. From 1996-1999 he held the position of senior coach; and from 1999-2004 he was NBAC's High Performance Coach. During his tenure in Baltimore, Bowman helped to produce 3 individual national champions, 10 national finalists and 5 USA National Team members. In recognition of his accomplishments, Bowman was named the USA's Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2003. He was also named Developmental Coach of the Year in 2002.
It was also during his work at NBAC that Bowman began coaching 14-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
. 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
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
. At the 2004 Games
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Bowman helped coach Phelps to eight medals, including six gold medals and two bronze.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he coached Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps
Michael Fred Phelps is an American swimmer who has, overall, won 16 Olympic medals—six gold and two bronze at Athens in 2004, and eight gold at Beijing in 2008, becoming the most successful athlete at both of these Olympic Games editions...
to achieve 8 Olympic Gold Medals, which has never been done before in a single Olympics.