Sam Busch

Sam Busch was hired as an assistant swimming and diving coach in the summer of 2013. Busch serves as the Cavaliers’ recruiting coordinator and works primarily with the UVA sprint group.

In 2015-16, Busch helped guide the Cavalier sprinters and the 200-yard freestyle relay to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which is tied for the best finish in the event in school history (1983).

In three seasons, Busch has mentored Cavalier sprinters to 17 all-time top-10 times at UVa and the women’s 200 free relay and 400 free relay school records. In addition, Cavalier sprinters helped UVA’s women break the 200 medley relay and 400 medley relay school records and the 400 medley relay ACC record. Ellen Thomas was the anchor on the 400 medley relay that finished second at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

Before coming to Charlottesville, Busch spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at Auburn, where he helped lead the Tiger men to two top-ten NCAA finishes, including a sixth-place mark in 2012.

Busch worked primarily with the backstroke and freestyle groups and guided Kyle Owens to 2012 SEC Championships in the 100 and 200 backstroke. Busch served as the initial scout for the Tiger recruiting program and helped coach the 2013 national champion men’s 200 free relay. A 2008 graduate of Arizona, Busch mentored Marcelo Chierighini to the 2012 London Olympics where he competed for the Brazilian 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays. Before Auburn, Busch served as a volunteer assistant for two seasons each at West Virginia (2009-11) and Arizona (2007-09).

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’s program at Salpointe Catholic High School in Tucson.