After five seasons as the assistant coach and a two month interim period as American University’s head coach of swimming and diving, Garland Bartlett has been named the official head coach of the program, the University announced Thursday.
Bartlett replaces former head coach Mark Davin, who spent 25 years at the helm of AU’s swim and dive program before departing at the end of April.
Prior to joining AU as an assistant coach in 2016, Bartlett spent a season as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Middlebury College, two seasons as assistant coach at Trinity College and a season as assistant coach at The College of New Jersey.
She was also an accomplished collegiate swimmer, earning four silver and two bronze medals at the Centennial Conference Championships during her time at Franklin & Marshall College.
AU’s athletic department said they’re excited to hire a coach who has helped elevate the swim and dive program during her tenure.
“Her tremendous care for our current student-athletes as well as her boundless enthusiasm for their academic, athletic and personal success ensures great things for the program moving forward,” AU’s Director of Athletics & Recreation Billy Walker said in AU’s press release.
Bartlett recently spearheaded the recruiting efforts for the program, and her efforts resulted in one of the largest and most talented recruiting classes the program has ever seen. The swim and dive teams added 12 men and 12 women to each team prior to the shortened 2020-21 season.
Rising sophomore Mimi Watts was a standout from the class of 2024, setting three University records in just two days. Bartlett said she is excited to continue developing AU’s young team as head coach.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to continue working with the student-athletes on the team and help them achieve their goals both in and out of the pool,” Bartlett said. “As a team, I am confident we will continue our upward trajectory and keep improving in the Patriot League and on the national level.”
With a roster that consists primarily of underclassmen who have proven themselves with high-level performances, Bartlett has a bright future to look forward to as head coach.
