Marshall University assistant swimming coach Ian Walsh has been named to the same position at the University of California-Berkeley.
Walsh coached for three seasons at Marshall since arriving in 2013. During his tenure with the Herd, Walsh worked primarily with the mid-sprint swimmers and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
“I am so happy for Ian,” Marshall head coach Bill Tramel said in a press release. “When I first hired him three years ago, he came to Marshall eager to learn and improve as a coach. He is a quick learner, and the results his swimmers have enjoyed since I handed him our sprint group are exceptional.”
In his new position at Cal-Berkeley, Walsh will work alongside head coach Teri McKeever, who was the 2012 U.S. Olympic coach. Cal-Berkeley has won for NCCA team championships under McKenzie and finished third at the championships this season.
“Ian is a young enthusiastic coach whose passion for the profession will be an inspiration for all of us,” McKeever said. “While he is still early in his career, he has learned from a strong set of mentors, and I hope to continue in that fashion for him. Having been a competitive swimmer and coached at the collegiate and club levels, he brings a diverse set of experiences that will be an asset for our program.”
Walsh said he’s excited for the new opportunity, but said he is grateful for his time as a member of the Herd coaching staff and Tramel’s influence.
“I cannot thank Bill enough for giving me the opportunity to coach at the NCAA Division I level at Marshall,” Walsh said. “Bill has learned from some of the best coaches in the country. He shared so much of his knowledge and experiences with me and really took me under his wing. I have become a better coach and individual through my time at Marshall. I’m very excited and confident the knowledge I have gained will serve me well as I continue my career at Cal.”
Tramel said that he is happy for Walsh, but sad to see him leave and said the team will begin the process of looking for a coach to fill Walsh’s position.
“While I’m incredibly sad to see Ian move on, I also understand that this is the part of the process,” Tramel said. “Now I look forward to sharing my knowledge with our next assistant coach.”