Bottom Named Big Ten Men's Swimming Coach of the Year
3/30/2021 3:30:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- University of Michigan swimming and diving head coach Mike Bottom was named 2021 Big Ten Men's Swimming Coach of the Year on Tuesday (March 30). Bottom coached the men's swimming and diving team to its second consecutive Big Ten championship and a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
Bottom guided the men's swimming and diving team through a season of challenges and disruptions. At the beginning of the school year, the program coped with the tragic loss of teammate Ian Miskelley. Training was interrupted twice: once in November just days before its planned midseason meet, and again in January as part of the two-week Athletic Department shutdown.
"This award, in the most challenging of years, really is reflective of our entire coaching staff," said Bottom. "Dr. Josh White, Sam Wensman and Cauli Bedran are all fantastic coaches and true Michigan Men. This season would not have been possible without their countless hours of hard work. We also owe a great deal of gratitude to all the support staff who've helped our team get through this year healthy. Thank you to them, and to Michigan."
The Wolverines entered the Big Ten Championships facing a 200-point deficit from diving and trailed by 26.5 points heading into the final day. U-M completed the comeback thanks to incredible team-wide depth, winning the title by 44 points. Over the five-day meet, U-M set 49 new career bests and saw 11 swimmers etch their names on the program's all-time top performers list.
Michigan finished tied for 12th at last week's NCAA Championships. Senior Luiz Gustavo Borges and the 200- and 400-yard medley relays each made the podium, while five other swimmers and two additional relay teams were All-America Honorable Mentions.
In his 13 years at Michigan, Bottom is a nine-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (seven for men's swimming, two for women's swimming).
• Big Ten Release
