The Big Ten announced the 2015 Big Ten Men’s Swimmer, Diver, Swimming Coach and Diving Coach of the Year awards, as voted on by the conference coaches. Michigan’s Dylan Bosch was named the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year, while the Wolverines’ head swimming coach, Mike Bottom, earned Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year plaudits. Purdue freshman Steele Johnson claimed Big Ten Diver of the Year honors, and the Boilermakers’ Adam Soldati was named Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year.
Bosch earned five top-six finishes at last weekend’s NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. He was third in the 200-yard butterfly (1:40.12), and fourth in both the 400-yard medley relay (3:05.18) and the 800-yard freestyle relay (6:16.05). Bosch also tallied a fifth-place touch in the 400-yard individual medley (3:41.50) and added a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (1:42.62). He secured first-team All-Big Ten honors this season after earning gold medal finishes in the 200-yard butterfly, 200- and 400-yard individual medley, 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay at the 2015 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. Bosch was also named Big Ten Swimmer of the Championships. The honor marks the fourth consecutive year and 20th time that a Michigan swimmer has earned the Big Ten Swimmer of the Year award.
Johnson claimed a pair of national titles last weekend, finishing first in the one-meter (468.15) and platform (532.70) diving events, while adding a ninth-place finish on three-meter with a score of 471.90. Johnson also earned second-team All-Big Ten honors after finishing as the runner up in all three diving events at the 2015 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. It marks the fifth time that Purdue has earned the Big Ten Diver of the Year honor, and the first since David Boudia in 2011.
Bottom collects Big Ten Swimming Coach of the Year honors for the fifth consecutive year after leading the Wolverines to their 39th Big Ten title and fifth in as many years. Michigan also earned a third-place finish at the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships last week.
Soldati earns Big Ten Diving Coach of the Year laurels for the fifth time after mentoring Johnson to his two national titles. Soldati coached a combined eight student-athletes that finished among the top eight in the three respective diving events at the 2015 Big Ten Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships. At the NCAA Championships, Soldati saw a combined four divers earn top-eight finishes, including three in the platform event.
