Sam Busch enters his second year as Auburn[apos]s assistant swimming coach in 2012-13. He came to Auburn in July of 2011 after spending a year as a volunteer assistant at West Virginia University.
Busch serves as Auburn[apos]s director of junior recruiting, the initial recruiting scout for the Tiger program. He works primarily with the backstroke and freestyle groups and helps train all swimmers in underwater and vertical kicking.
His backstroke group, led by junior Kyle Owens, led Auburn to its 16th consecutive SEC men[apos]s championship in 2012 as Owens won both the 100 and 200 back, was runner-up in the 200 IM and was part of four of Auburn[apos]s five winning relay teams. It was just the second time in history Auburn won all five relays at an SEC Championship.
Busch helped the Tiger men to a sixth-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Championships, and he helped coach the Auburn women to a tie for seventh place at NCAAs.
He also traveled with future Olympian Marcelo Chierighini to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in December 2011 to help him prepare for the Brazilian Olympic Trials; Chierighini eventually made the team and swam in the 4x100 free relay and 4x100 medley relay at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Before coming to Auburn, Busch served as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arizona and West Virginia University. While in Tucson, Ariz., he assisted five seasons at Tucson Ford Aquatics, the 2010 National Club Champions. Busch also served three years as head coach of the women[apos]s program at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson, where he was a standout football and baseball player. In his career, he has worked with numerous high school All-Americans, NCAA champions and Olympic medalists.
[quote]I am truly humbled by the opportunity that head coach Brett Hawke and his staff have given me,[quote] Busch said. [quote]I am blessed to complement an already dynamic coaching staff and will tirelessly work to ensure Auburn swimming & diving sustains itself at the sky-high standard at which it has been for so many years now. To produce quality student-athletes both inside and outside of the pool is a fundamental priority of mine. I look forward to embracing the rich tradition and special community in Auburn.[quote]
Busch comes from a strong tradition of coaching excellence. His father, Frank Busch, recently wrapped up 31 years as a collegiate head coach at Arizona and Cincinnati, and he is now the National Team Director for USA Swimming. His brother, Augie, is the head coach of women[apos]s swimming at Houston.
Busch is a graduate of the University of Arizona. He brings specialized experience in dryland programs and underwater kicking. His favorite aspect of coaching is stroke analysis.