TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona head coach Eric Hansen has been selected to lead the U.S. men’s swim team at the 2012 Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. The event will take place Dec. 12-15.
“I’m honored by the opportunity and I look forward to being a part of such a great team,” Hansen said. “It’s exciting and I think anytime you can lead a U.S. team, it’s an honor but it’s also a responsibility and I embrace both.”
His appointment as head coach of the 2012 Short Course World Championship team adds to a long list of national and international honors for Hansen. Heavily involved in the U.S. National Team program, Hansen served as the head coach for the American team at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China. Other national team coaching experience on Hansen's resume includes serving as a head coach in 2006 for the World Short Course Championships in Shanghai, China, men's assistant for the Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, the 2002 U.S. Head Coach at the Short Course Worlds in Moscow, Russia and head coach for the Pan American Games team in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
UA sophomore Kevin Cordes, the reigning NCAA champion in the 100 breast and 200 medley relay, will swim for Hansen on the U.S. squad, as will Olympian and Arizona alum Clark Burckle and his on Tucson Ford Dealer Aquatics, Matt Grevers, a six-time Olympic medalist.
Arizona senior Ellyn Baumgardner and freshman Bonnie Brandon will participate in the event for the U.S. Women’s team. The women’s team will be led by Chuck Batchelor of the Bluefish Swim Club.
“It will be a lot of fun to watch the student-athletes from our program compete,” Hansen added. “I really like this meet and it’s something that the U.S. is known for. We are definitely a great short course nation and it will be fun to take the momentum we gained from London and get back on the world stage again.”
Overall, 17 Olympians will be on the U.S. teams, nine on the men’s side and eight on the women’s team.
The Wildcats will open their season on Friday, Oct. 19, when they host Hawaii in a multi-day dual meet at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center.
