Women's Swimming & Diving to Usher in New Era with Wisconsin Dual
Dr. Josh White enters his fifth season on the Michigan coaching staff, serving the last four years as the assistant head coach for the men's swimming and diving team, where he led one of the best distance groups in the country. White has been instrumental in the Wolverines' continued success in the pool, helping the Maize and Blue to the 2009, 2011, and 2012 Big Ten Championships. Michigan is 32-3-1 since White's arrival, having finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships each season.
During the 2012 season, the Wolverines finished fifth, their highest placing since 2004. White's work with Michigan's distance swimmers has been a key part in Michigan's recent success at the Big Ten, national, and international level. Michigan distance swimmers have owned the field in the team's last two appearances at the Big Ten Championships, holding the top three places in the 500-yard freestyle in both 2011 and 2012, while finishing 1-2-3 in the 1,650-yard freestyle in 2012 and 1-2-4 in 2011. Sean Ryan and Connor Jeager each went on to earn NCAA All-American status at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
Beyond the NCAA, Michigan distance swimmers have achieved great international success. White coached four of the top nine milers at the 2012 US Olympic Trials including Connor Jaeger, who earned a spot on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team and took sixth in the 1,500-meter freestyle in London. The Michigan and Club Wolverine contingent also placed three swimmers in the final of the 400-meter freestyle at the 2012 Trials including former Wolverine Matt Patton. Ryan Feeley was the highest placing NCAA athlete in this event finishing fifth. At the 2012 Olympic Games, White served as the head swimming coach for Barbados, coaching former University of Florida standout Bradley Ally in the 100-meter backstroke, and the 200- and 400-meter individual medleys.
Athletes coached by Dr. White have also had great success in Open Water competition. He was the head open water coach for the United States at the 2011 World University Games. White has coached athletes at each of the last three World Championships including every distance from the 5-25k. Sean Ryan is a multiple US National Team selection and a world champion in the 5k team race from the 2011 World Championships. Former U-M star Emily Brunemann, the 2008 NCAA champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle, was coached by White in 2009 when she won the 10k at the US National Championships and in 2010 when she placed third at the Pan-Pacific Championships. Additionally, White coached Open Water National Team members Ryan Feeley and Emily Hanson.
Prior to his arrival in Ann Arbor, White was head coach of the men's and women's swimming teams at Division-III Pomona-Pitzer (Claremont, Calif.) from 2006-08.
In 2006, White attained his Ph.D. in human performance from Indiana University, studying in the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming. His graduate research focused on the power generated during swimming and swimming power training.
While pursuing his Ph.D. at IU, White spent three years as a volunteer assistant coach with the Hoosier men's swimming team. Additionally, White coached at Bloomington South (Ind.) High School and has club team experience with The Indiana Swim Team and Bloomington Swim Club.
