LSU Tabs Schmitt as New Head Coach

Adam Schmitt, a former All-American swimmer at LSU in the late 1980's, has been named head swimming and diving coach for the Tigers, LSU Director of Athletics Skip Bertman announced on Tuesday.

Schmitt will serve as the head coach for both the men's and women's swimming and diving programs at LSU, replacing Jeff Cavana who resigned earlier this spring.

"This is a very exciting opportunity for me and my family," Schmitt said. "To come back to LSU and serve as head coach at my Alma Mater is very special to me. I see a lot of parallels right now as to when I was a swimmer at LSU back in the 1980's. I think Coach Bertman is a terrific athletic director who has the entire LSU athletic program going in the right direction and I certainly look forward to working with him.

"I can see building something very special in terms of the swimming and diving program at LSU. LSU is a great place to recruit student-athletes to and I'm ready to rebuild the swimming and diving program into something that this University will be proud of."

Schmitt, a native of Houston, Texas, comes to LSU after serving as associate head coach at Arizona State for three years. Prior to his three-year stint at Arizona State, Schmitt served as an assistant coach at Auburn for four years, helping the Tigers to one NCAA title and pair of NCAA runner-up finishes.

At Arizona State, Schmitt's expertise in the sprint races helped produce multiple top eight NCAA finishes in both individual and relay races for the Sun Devils over the past three years.

"We're very excited about having Adam join our coaching staff here at LSU," Bertman said. "It's great to have a former Tiger come back to serve as head coach for a team that he enjoyed so much success with during his days as a student-athlete.

"Adam is a quality person with outstanding character who I'm sure will do a fantastic job with our swimming and diving program."

As a member of the LSU swimming team in the 1980's, Schmitt played a key role in leading the Tigers to their highest finish ever at both the conference meet as well as the NCAA Championships in 1988. That year, LSU won its only Southeastern Conference title and then went on to a sixth place showing at the NCAA Championships.

Schmitt capped his LSU career by capturing the SEC title in the 50-yard freestyle three times. He's also the second-most decorated swimmer in LSU history, earning a total of 10 all-America honors during his career. Schmitt's all-America honors include being a three-time recipient in both the 100-freestyle and the 400-freestyle relay as well as being honored twice in the 50-freestyle and the 400-freestyle medley relay.

Schmitt still holds the LSU record in the 100-freestyle with a 43.22 clocking, which he set in 1988. He also ranks second in school history in the 50-freestyle with a time of 19.65, also recorded in 1988.

On the international level, Schmitt was a member of several U.S. National Teams and participated in the 1986 Goodwill Games, the 1987 World University Games and the 1991 Pan-American Games. He was the 1989 U.S. Open Champion in the 50-freestyle and he was a finalist in the 50-freestyle at the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Schmitt's other collegiate coaching stop came at Long Beach City College, where he served as head coach for one season.

Schmitt, a 1989 graduate of LSU in marketing, is married to former Stanford swimming All-American Aimee Berzins and the couple has two daughters, Hannah and Haley.