August 25, 2009_Date Announced for the 2nd Annual Sun Devil Swimming Association Dinner Gala

TEMPE, Ariz. --- It\'s that time again... On October 24, 2009 the SDSA will be hosting its 2nd Annual Dinner Gala fundraiser featuring David Marsh, and Bill Rose as keynote speakers at the Home of ASU Swimming, Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex in Tempe, AZ. We are proud to welcome back Mistress of Ceremonies, 6-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Van Dyken-Ruane.

David Marsh, CEO/Head Elite Coach of the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club:
-\tFormer Auburn University Men\'s & Women\'s Head Swimming & Diving Coach
-\t10 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships
-\t9-time NCAA & 13-time SEC Coach of the year
-\tCoached 40 Individual NCAA Champions & 25 NCAA Relay Champions

Bill Rose, CEO/Head Coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores Swimming Club:
-\tFormer Head Women\'s Coach, Arizona State University (1979)
-\tFormer US National Team & US World University Games Team Coach
-\tFormer Mexican Olympic Swimming Head Coach (2000)
-\tCoached multiple US Olympians (Incl. Larsen Jensen, 2004 & Chad Carvin, 2000)

Cocktails, Registration begins at 5:30pm, Dinner at 7:00pm. The attire will be Semi-Formal.

At 6:30pm, the ASU Men\'s & Women\'s Diving Team will be performing a Diving Exhibition.

Plenty of table/door prizes, plus a great auction and amazing raffle items.

Table Sponsorships opportunities and VIP tables available!
-\tTitle Sponsor Table (2 Available) $5,000
-\tVIP Sponsor Table $3,500
-\tGold Sponsor Table $2,500
-\tMaroon Sponsor Table $1,500

Event proceeds to support ASU Swimming. Discounted Rooms available at the Courtyard by Marriott: 5th and Ash, Tempe, AZ 85281, Tel. (480) 966-2800 & the Arizona Grand Resort: I-10 and Baseline, Phoenix, AZ 85044, Tel. (602) 438-9000.

To register visit the Events Page.

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August 12, 2009_Former Arizona State Coach Ron Johnson Remembered

TEMPE, Ariz. --- A Memorial for Ron Johnson, former Arizona State University head swimming coach, has been set for 9 a.m., Saturday, August 15 at ASU\'s Memorial Union. Sunday we will say good-bye to \"Coach\" in our own way, a swimming workout held in his memory will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, attendees can share any stories or memories of the \"Coach\".

TheSunDevil.com reports, \"Johnson, who passed away last weekend, served as ASU\'s men\'s swimming head coach for 18 years (1976-1993) and earned a winning record of 114-50. Within two years as head coach, the Sun Devils cracked the top-20 nationally and had its first All-American, Blake Johnson, who placed third at the 1977 NCAA Championships in the 400 IM.

The men\'s program finished in the top 10 six times under Johnson. The team reached a school-high sixth place finish in 1982 and the following year Johnson was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year. He additionally served as the women\'s co-coach with Mona Plummer when the 1977 and 1978 women\'s team won the AIAW national titles. Both he and Plummer were named Co-Coach of the Year in 1978-79 by the National Women\'s Swimming Coaches Association.

Johnson\'s Sun Devil athletes earned over 100 All-American honors. He helped lead Andy Astbury to the 500 freestyle NCAA individual title in 1982. Johnson coached another NCAA individual champion a year later as Mike Orn took the 200 free title.

As the director of the Mexican National competitive swimming program, Johnson served as Mexico\'s head coach for the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games. Johnson\'s swimmers found success at the Summer Olympic Games as 27 of his former Sun Devil athletes have been Olympic finalists and 14 of those have left the Olympics with a medal.\"

In 2007, Johnson was inducted into both the ASU Sports Hall of Fame and into the Masters Swimming Hall of Fame. As a Masters swimmer, he broke over 50 world records.

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May 19, 2009_Arizona State Hires National Championship Caliber Coach to Take Over Swimming Program

TEMPE, Ariz. --- TheSunDevils.com Reports, \"Dorsey Tierney-Walker has been named the head coach of the Arizona State University swimming and diving program, Senior Associate Athletic Director Dawn Rogers announced today, May 19. Tierney-Walker will be only the second head coach in ASU\'s history to direct both the men and women\'s swimming teams while becoming the Sun Devil men\'s program fifth head coach in history and sixth in the women\'s program.

\"It gives me great pleasure to announce the hiring of Dorsey Tierney-Walker as our new Head Coach for ASU Men\'s and Women\'s Swimming,\" said Rogers. \"As we spoke to members of the swimming community across the country, Dorsey\'s name was in every conversation. Her experience as both an elite competitor and coaching at the national championship level was the perfect match for Arizona State. She is fiercely competitive and brings a passion and excitement to our program that embraces our philosophy; to graduate our student-athletes and compete for national championships. Her commitment and excitement to build the men\'s and women\'s teams into contenders at the highest level spoke to our teams and our alumni, who have been great supporters of ASU Swimming. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Sun Devil Family.\"

\"First of all I want to thank Dawn Rogers and Lisa Love. I was incredibly impressed by the entire department\'s professionalism and by their strong commitment and vision, not only for the elevation of the men and women\'s swimming and diving program, but also of the entire athletic department,\" said Tierney-Walker. \"I am absolutely honored and thrilled to be a part of it.\"

Tierney-Walker has recently served as the co-women\'s head coach of the successful Auburn program. In her four years at Auburn, the Tigers have won two NCAA Championships and two SEC Conference titles. With Tierney-Walker on deck, the Tigers have garnered 196 All-American honors and have finished no lower than sixth.

Prior to her time at Auburn, Tierney-Walker served as the women\'s head coach at Indiana University for seven years. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and led the Hoosier swimmers to 99 All-American honors. With Tierney-Walker at the helm, the Hoosiers finished an Indiana history-best ninth place at the NCAA Championships in 2005. In her last four years at Indiana, Tierney-Walker\'s swimmers broke every school swimming record.

Tierney-Walker was an assistant coached at national powerhouse Southern Methodist 1996-98. During her three-year stint at SMU, Tierney-Walker helped lead the Mustangs to three top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a runner-up finish in 1996.

Tierney-Walker has also found success in the international field. She served as an assistant coach for the United States at the World University Games in 2001 and coached Susan Woessner to a silver medal in the 100m backstroke, bronze medal in the 50m backstroke and silver medal as a member of the 400m medley relay. Tierney-Walker also assisted Cyndi Gallagher at the 2007 World University Games where the team picked up 10 medals at the Pan-Am Games.

Tierney-Walker was a successful athlete herself. She has won four gold medals at the Pan-Am Games and was also an Olympic Trials finalist in 1988 and 1992. In collegiate action, Tierney-Walker swam for the University of Texas. She helped lead the Longhorns to two National Championship and collected 16 All-American honors in her collegiate career.

Tierney-Walker earned her B.A. in English with a minor in history from Texas in 1992. She served as an assistant coach at her alma mater for a year following graduation.

Tierney-Walker is married to Jeff Walker. Her brother, Jimmy Tierney, is the head coach of the women\'s swimming team at Northwestern.\"

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February 2, 2009_2nd Annual Sun Devil Swimming Association Golf Tournament Announced

TEMPE, Ariz. --- Please join us Friday, April 14, 2009. The Sun Devil Swimming Association announces its 2nd Annual Sun Devil Swimming Association Golf Tournament to be held at the ASU Karsten Golf Course.

Golf Includes: Green Fee, Cart, Lunch and Award\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 6:30 a.m. Registration\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 7:30 a.m. Shotgun Start\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 12:30 p.m. Lunch, Auction & Awards

To register visit the Events Page. Please register by April 1, 2009.

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October 27, 2009_Date Set for the 1st Annual Sun Devil Swimming Association Dinner Gala

TEMPE, Ariz. --- We are excited to announce our next event. On November 22, 2008 the SDSA will be hosting a dinner gala fundraiser featuring Jason Lezak as the main speaker at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort. Jason Lezak (Olympic Gold Medalist, World Record Holder, Fastest 100M Freestyle Relay-Split in History), Lacey Nymeyer (Beijing Silver Medalist/NCAA Champion), Frank Busch (NCAA Champion/Olympic coach), and Ron Johnson (Former ASU Men\'s Swimming Head Coach).

Mistress of Ceremonies will be 6-Time Olympic Gold Medalist Amy Van Dyken-Ruane.

Plenty of table/door prizes, plus a great auction and terrific raffle items.

Table Sponsorships opportunities and VIP tables available with great added perks!
-\tVIP Sponsor Tables (9 guests to dine with a featured speaker) $3,500.00
-\tGold Sponsor Tables (10 guests) $2,500.00
-\tMaroon Sponsor Tables (10 guests) $1,500.00

Event proceeds to support ASU Swimming. Discounted rooms available at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort: 7200 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, Arizona 85253 Tel (480) 948-5000.

To register visit the Events Page.

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July 15, 2009_First step taken WE\'RE BACK!

This good (official) news from the ASU Intercollegiate Athletics today, Financial Support from Various Donors Helps Reinstate ASU Men\'s Swimming.

The ASU Men\'s Swimming Team will compete fully in the NCAA 2008-09 Season.

TEMPE, Ariz. --- TheSunDevils.com reports, \"Arizona State University Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Tuesday, July 15, 2008 that the athletic department is fully reinstating the sport of varsity men\'s swimming, effective immediately, due to financial support from various donors across the globe. The sport of wrestling had been reinstated on May 23, 2008.

\"It is comforting to know that we have had two separate sports communities step up and raise enough funds to support these programs,\" says Love. \"This is both remarkable and special in that, for the second time, passionate alumni are giving back to protect the future of an ASU varsity sport that not only served them well, but, as of today, will continue to serve future athletes.\"

ASU had announced on May 13, 2008 that it was discontinuing the sport of men\'s swimming, along with wrestling and men\'s tennis, due to the rising cost of operating a 22-sport varsity program. Men\'s diving was never affected by the decision. It was determined at that time that sponsoring a 20-sport program would better fit ASU\'s athletic financial profile. Love indicated at the time that if the either of the sports\' communities were able to raise enough financial support the sport could be reinstated. Wrestling was reinstated due to financial support from local civic leadership. Swimming has now followed the suit and will continue to be a varsity sport at Arizona State in 2008-09.

Love said that fundraising for the sport of men\'s swimming will be an ongoing process. The objective is not just to sponsor men\'s swimming as a varsity sport, but to position the sport as one of the top programs in the country.

The Sun Devil men\'s swimming team is a member of the Pacific-10 Conference.

For more information regarding giving to assist the Sun Devil varsity sports programs, visit www.sundevilclub.com.\"

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June 6, 2008_1st Annual SAVE ASU SWIMMING Golf Tournament Announced

TEMPE, Ariz. --- The Sun Devil Swimming Association announces its 1st Annual Save ASU Swimming Golf Tournament to be held at the TPC Scottsdale Championship Course on Friday, July 11, 2008.

Golf Includes: Green Fee, Cart, Lunch and Award\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 6:30 a.m. Registration\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 8:00 a.m. Shotgun Start\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t- 12:30 p.m. Lunch, Auction & Awards

To register visit the Events Page to register. Please register by July 1st, 2008.

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May 13, 2008_ASU Announces Men\'s Swimming Cut, Cite Economic Reasons

TEMPE, Ariz. --- TheSunDevils.com reports, \"In response to economic realities experienced over a long period of time, Arizona State University today announced the discontinuation of three varsity sports programs, effective immediately. The sport programs affected are men\'s swimming, men\'s tennis and wrestling. ASU President Michael Crow and Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love made the announcement. With the budget cuts the University is facing, Intercollegiate Athletics cannot expect the University to make up the difference.

This move reduces the number of varsity sports sponsored by ASU to 20 from 22. The move will not affect men\'s diving. ASU will continue to fund football, men\'s and women\'s basketball, baseball, softball, men\'s and women\'s golf, men\'s and women\'s cross country, men\'s and women\'s indoor and outdoor track and field, women\'s tennis, women\'s swimming and diving, men\'s diving, women\'s volleyball, women\'s gymnastics and women\'s water polo.

\"Our primary concern for the immediate future is the student-athletes and coaches that are affected,\" says Love.

The student-athletes in the discontinued sports who decide to transfer to another institution will be provided with full assistance from ASU regarding the transfer process. The student-athletes who chose to remain at ASU will receive the full benefits of their scholarship awards through their senior year.

\"With a dedicated effort to a successful 20-sport varsity program in mind,\" says Love, \"these three sports were selected with the following criteria: financial impact, potential competitive success, conference/regional support and gender equity. Our revenue trajectory has been positive, however, our ongoing financial challenges have been well documented by the media. The decision to discontinue sport programs is a last resort, yet necessary.\"

\"These moves are extremely painful,\" says Love. \"We have arrived at the realization that funding a 20 sport program is a better fit for our financial profile and will serve to secure and strengthen our future. It is our responsibility to operate a fiscally prudent varsity athletics program. The costs of doing business are escalating daily and the costs of maintaining excellence even more so.\"
At 20 varsity sports, ASU is in line with other major institutions around the country. In the Pacific-10 Conference, schools that compare favorably with ASU are UCLA and Washington 23 sports each, USC 21, Arizona 20, Oregon and Oregon State 18 each and Washington State 17. On a national scale, Florida, Georgia and Auburn sponsor 21 varsity sports, Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and LSU 20 apiece, and Florida State 19.

\"The profile of our operations budget and donation base does not lend itself to the sponsorship of 22 athletic teams,\" says Love. \"While our revenue streams are achieving a positive trajectory they are simply not keeping pace with the current size and scope of the department.

\"The decision to discontinue sports has been the most distressing and painful choice this administration has had to make. It is counter-intuitive to our administrative thinking. This decision impacts many people, both on and off our campus. The entire University, the Board of Regents, Sun Devil alumni and other universities will share in the loss of these sports and student-athletes and the contributions they have made to our University and to their sport.

\"The action is in no way meant to diminish the dedication, effort or ability of these student-athletes, coaches and alumni. They have contributed greatly to Arizona State University athletics and to the vitality and history of the University,\" Love says.

The establishment of a 20-team varsity sport program will allow the department to realize a reduction in expenses that will total approximately of $1 million annually.

This is the second time in ASU\'s athletic history that programs have been eliminated. In 1993 ASU eliminated men\'s gymnastics, an NCAA-sponsored sport, and two club sports sponsored by ICA -- men\'s and women\'s and mixed archery and men\'s and women\'s and mixed badminton. Two sports have been added in recent program history, including women\'s varsity soccer in 1996 and women\'s water polo in 2002.\"
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