Auburn University

Vlad Polyakov, a former three-time Olympian, World Champion and NCAA Champion, was named an associate head swimming coach at Auburn in May 2021. Polyakov spent the previous nine years on the Louisville swimming and diving staff also serving as men's recruiting coordinator. "I am very excited to welcome Vlad, Mhyria, Liam and Maksim to the Auburn Family," Auburn head coach Ryan Wochomurka said. "Vlad brings an unequaled positive energy to the pool deck and is one the most genuinely well-liked and respected individuals in the industry. He is one of the brightest and most innovative technical coaches I have ever had the pleasure to work with. He also brings a tenacious and studious approach to recruiting and is one of the very best at identifying talent domestically and internationally. Vlad's experience as an elite level athlete on the SEC, NCAA, and international stage allows him a unique opportunity to guide our student-athletes in their own elite level pursuits. I look forward to working with Vlad again as our Associate Head Coach and take great pleasure in hearing him yell 'War Eagle!'" In Polyakov's nine seasons at Louisville, the Cardinals earned eight top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships – five on the women's side and three on the men's side. The Cardinals had 12 individual titles and one relay title at the NCAA Championships in his tenure, and three swimmers combined for six selections as ACC Swimmer of the Year. The 2020-21 season saw Louisville's men match their program-best finish with a fifth-place showing at NCAAs, earning individual titles in the 200 butterfly (Nicolas Albiero) and 200 medley relay. In addition, Albiero was named men's ACC Swimmer of the Year, and the Cardinals won the ACC Championship for the first time. The Cardinal women earned a 13th-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships. "My family and I are very excited to become a part of the Auburn Family. Auburn swimming and diving was an undisputed standard of excellence during my college years. Auburn athletes that I raced against were tough and fierce competitors, and Auburn coaches of that era are still considered some of the greatest coaches in the world of swimming today," Polyakov said. "Auburn's legacy is undeniable. I am honored to have the opportunity to be associated with one of the richest traditions in swimming and diving history. I share Ryan's vision for the program and look forward to empowering our Auburn athletes to perform at the highest level of their ability both academically and athletically. War Eagle!" Despite an abrupt end due to the coronavirus pandemic that resulted in the cancellation of the NCAA Championships, the 2019-20 season was still memorable for the Cardinals. UofL qualified 10 men for the national meet and tied their program best with 12 qualifiers on the women's side, and both the women and men finished third at their respective ACC Championships. The Cardinals concluded the season with final rankings of No. 9 for men and No. 16 for women in the CSCAA Poll, had 31 athletes named as All-Americans, and was again selected as a Scholar All-American team. In a memorable 2018-19, Polyakov helped the Cardinal women to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship, the highest finish in program history. The Cards earned the program's first-ever team trophy, securing fourth with 235 points. Louisville became the first ACC program in history to have both its men's and women's teams finish in the top five at NCAAs in a single season. Arthur Albiero earned his second straight ACC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year honors and Mallory Comerford collected her third consecutive ACC Women's Swimmer of the Year honor after winning two titles at the NCAA Championship and three ACC Championship gold medals (100, 200, and 500 freestyle). The men made history was made at the NCAA Championship as the Cardinals captured a program-record fifth place finish. The Cardinals' 212 points were also the most scored by a Louisville men's team at an NCAA Championship. The Cards became the first ACC program in history to have both its men's and women's teams finish in the top five at NCAAs in a single season. In 2017-18, major awards during the collegiate season began when Nick Albiero was named ACC Freshman of the Year with Mallory Comerford winning ACC Swimmer of the Year, and newcomer Mariia Ashtashkina being named ACC Freshman of the Year for the women. At NCAAs, the Cardinals had 15 men's and women's athletes earn a combined 38 All-American honors. The 2016-17 season brought the Cardinals to the forefront on both the national and international stage. Breakout star Mallory Comerford won five gold medals at the 2017 FINA World Championships, was the champion in the 100m free at 2017 Phillips 66 Nationals and tied for the 2017 NCAA title in the 200y free with Katie Ledecky. The Cardinals men's team set 11 school records and finished second at the ACC Championship, while the women finished third. The women led the nation with 11 All-Americans while finishing sixth overall to tie the school record for highest finish. Meanwhile, the men finished 11th at the NCAAs with eight All-Americans. On the international stage, Polyakov was a member of the coaching staff for Russia in Budapest at the World Championships. The year 2015-16 season saw the Cardinals win two more NCAA Championships with Kelsi Worrell picking up two more in the butterfly events. Worrell went on to make the Olympic team and win a relay gold medal after winning the Honda Award and being named as a First Team Academic All-American. She was named both the ACC Swimmer of the Year, and the 2016 Most Valuable Swimmer. In all, seven Cardinals went to Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games. The men were the ACC runners up and the women were fourth, while at NCAAs, the Cardinal men were 11th and the women placed eighth. In his third season, Polyakov helped coach the Cards to two NCAA championships, 10 ACC gold medals and guided a total of 14 Cardinals to All-American status. The Cardinal men were second at ACCs and the women were fourth prior to the Cardinal women finishing a school record No. 6 at NCAAs and the men finishing No. 15 in a true team effort. The Cardinals won five Pan American Medals, won two USA National Championships and put five swimmers in the FINA World Championships and two at the World University Games. In 2013-14, he helped coach the Cards to a No. 11 NCAA finish along with two more national championships as Joao De Lucca hit the wall first in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. The Cardinal men also won the inaugural American Conference Championship. Polyakov's first season at Louisville, he helped coach the Cardinal women to their third straight BIG EAST Championship. De Lucca became the second Cardinal in history to win an NCAA Championship, when he took the 200-free in a 1:33.49, the third fastest time in the history of the NCAA meet. Prior to coming to Louisville, Polyakov amassed extensive international experience and gathered a long list of accomplishments in collegiate and professional swimming. A 2007 graduate of the University of Alabama, Polyakov swam for the Crimson Tide from 2003-2007. After graduating in 2007, Polyakov spent the next five years in the professional ranks competing. While at Alabama, Polyakov was a 5-time SEC Champion, 2-time NCAA Champion, and 2-time US National Champion In 2005 and 2006, he was the 100- and 200- breaststroke champion in the SEC. Again in 2007, Polyakov won the100-breaststroke in the SEC. He is the school record holder in both the 100- and 200-breaststrokes for the Crimson Tide. Polyakov holds the record in the 200-breaststroke for the Southeastern Conference. He was the runner up at the 2003 and 2006 NCAA Championships in the 200-breaststroke. In 2005 and 2007, he was the 200-breaststroke NCAA Breaststroke Champion. For all of his accomplishments and honors as a swimmer for the Crimson Tide, he was named to the Alabama Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame. Polyakov accumulated just as many honors as a student while at the University of Alabama. In 2002 and 2003 he was named to the Alabama President's List. From 2002-2007 he was named to the Alabama Dean's List. Polyakov was named Academic All-SEC four times and was also a four-time Coaches Association Academic All-American. In 2005, 2006, and 2007 he was named to the ESPN Academic All-American At-Large Team. He was given an Individual Academic All-American Award by the CSCAA in 2005. Polyakov was given the "Most Valuable" Award for Most Dedicated Student-Athlete of the Year in 2005 and 2006. During the 2006 season Polyakov was named the SEC Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year and also received the Coaches Award from the Crimson Tide team. During his time at Alabama and after Polyakov took his talents to the international and then the professional ranks. He was a three-time Olympian having swam in the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and most recently the 2012 Olympics in London for his native Kazakhstan. In 2004, he was a finalist in the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke. In other international competition, Polyakov was a 2004 FINA World Championship Bronze medalist in the 100m and 200m breaststrokes and then in 2006 he was a FINA World Championship Gold medalist in the 200m breaststroke.

Abbie Quallen (Houck) was named an assistant coach with the Auburn swimming and diving program in May 2021. A former All-American swimmer at Louisville, Houck came to Auburn from the University of Houston where she was an assistant under current Auburn head coach Ryan Wochomurka for two seasons. "I am extremely excited to welcome Abbie and her fiancé Josh to Auburn," Wochomurka said. "I had the opportunity to coach Abbie for two years at Louisville, and then watch as she developed in the coaching profession first as a volunteer at U of L and then as an assistant at IUPUI. I jumped at the chance to bring her to Houston two years ago, and she was invaluable to our success there in the development of seven All-Americans over the last two seasons. Abbie is exceptional in the on-deck coaching role, even more effective as a communicator to student-athletes, and one the best recruiters I have had the honor to work with." In her two seasons at Houston, Houck helped lead the women's program to back-to-back American Athletic Conference team championships along with seven NCAA qualifiers that earned nine All-America honors. This past season the program had its best NCAA finish in 10 years. "I am so excited to be a part of the Auburn swimming and diving program," Houck said. "It is an honor to join a team with such rich traditions, and I am grateful to continue working with Ryan on the pool deck. I'm eager to get to the Plains and get to work. War Eagle!" Prior to Houston, Houck was at IUPUI where she was the assistant swimming coach and the head women's recruiting coordinator during the 2018-19 season. In her role with the Jaguars, Houck handled recruiting efforts for the women's team, created and executed all training plans and coordinated with the head coach on scheduling competitions as well as assisting with the day-to-day needs of the program. In her tenure at IUPUI, the Jaguars achieved their highest combined program finish at the Horizon League Championships, cultivated four conference champions and broke nine program records. Houck's first coaching experience came as a student assistant coach at Louisville following a four-year career competing for the Cardinals. Houck closed out her career at Louisville as a two-time NCAA All-American and four-time All-ACC selection. Houck posted an impressive freshman season, closing out the season with All-Conference accolades after helping the team post a program record in the 800 Freestyle Relay at the American Athletic Conference Championships. Her pupil closed out the conference championships with a second-place finish in the 1650 Free, along with a third-place finish in the 500 Free. During her sophomore campaign Houck earned All-ACC honors again and helped the Cardinals to a third-place finish in the 800 Freestyle relay at the league championships. Houck helped the Cardinals at the NCAA Championships, swimming on the 800 Freestyle Relay. During her junior season, Houck scored 59 points at the ACC Championships as a finalist in the 500 Freestyle, 200 Freestyle and 200 Butterfly. Houck also swam on the 400 Freestyle Relay, helping the Cardinals close out the event in fourth place. Houck closed out her collegiate career with another appearance at the NCAA Championships competing in the 200 Freestyle and 200 Butterfly. Earning CSCAA First Team All-America honors and All-ACC Academic team honors. The Colorado native swam for the North Jeffco Swim team, is a Colorado State Champion in the 500 Freestyle and a five time All-American in the 200 and 400 Freestyle. Houck graduated in from the University of Louisville in 2017 with a Bachelor's of Science in sport administration.

Gideon Louw, who was a key member of Auburn's last national championship winning swimming and diving team, returned to the Plains as an assistant coach in May 2018. Louw has spent the past four seasons at Minnesota, the last two as associate head coach, focusing on recruiting and the sprint freestyle group. Louw has been on deck for a resurgence at Minnesota as the Gopher men moved up from a 25th-place finish at NCAAs his first season (2015) to 15th this past year. This past season sprinter Bowen Becker was the Big 10 Champion in the 50 free and finished third at NCAAs in the event. Bowen, the Big 10 record holder in the 50 free (18.69), also took 14th in the 100 free and was on the 200 medley relay that earned All-America honorable mention at NCAAs. Louw helped engineer a turnaround for the Gopher men's relays in 2016. After sending no relays to the NCAA Championships in 2015, they sent four in 2016 and then five in 2017 and 2018, with the 200 medley relay scoring in both 2016 and 2018 and the 400 free relay team scoring in 2017. Outside of collegiate coaching, Louw also works with Olympic hopefuls. Minnesota alumnus David Plummer, who trained with Louw leading up to the 2016 Olympics, won a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke and a gold medal with the United States' 400m medley relay. Louw went to Minnesota after serving two seasons as a graduate assistant at Florida State where he provided planning and implementation of workouts and provided analysis and instruction of swimming techniques, among other duties. While at FSU, Louw helped the Seminole men to a 14th-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Championships. A 2008 and 2012 Olympian for his native South Africa, Louw remains one of the top sprinters in Auburn swimming and diving history, still holding top-10 times in both the 50 free (18.99/8th) and 100 free (41.95/8th) and part of the school record in both the 200 and 400 free relays. At the 2012 London Olympics, Louw finished fifth as a member of the 400m free relay and ninth in the 50m free. During the 2008 Games, he finished 12th in the 50 free. As a student-athlete at Auburn, Louw played an integral role in helping Auburn claim its eighth NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championship as a junior in 2009. That season he was a three-time NCAA Champion as a member of the 200 free relay and 200 and 400 medley relay teams, with the 200 medley relay team setting the NCAA record (1:14.08). As a senior in 2010, he placed third in the 100 free and fifth in the 50 free individually and second in the 200 free relay and both medley relays. "It is a big honor to come back to Auburn," Louw said. "I feel like I am picking up where I left off. As a former athlete at Auburn I am excited for the opportunity to, once again, put in hard work to help realize the success that the Auburn Swimming and Diving program deserves." Louw began his collegiate career at Indian River State College in Ft. Pierce, Fla., where he was a seven-time NJCAA champion in 2008, winning the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 800 free relay and 400 medley relay. For his efforts he was named NJCAA Swimmer of the Year. Louw was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2014 and into the Indian River State College Hall of Fame in 2013. He earned a degree in exercise science from Auburn in 2011 and earned a master's degree in exercise physiology from Florida State in 2014. Louw is married to Shanda Louw, also a former Division I swimmer.

Mike Simpson was named an assistant coach with the Auburn swimming and diving program in June 2021. Simpson arrived at Auburn from South Carolina where he was an assistant coach for the past three seasons. Prior to that, he spent the first 19 years of his collegiate coaching career building up the Gardner-Webb swimming and diving program. "The entirety of our staff is excited to welcome Mike and Kathi officially into the Auburn Swimming & Diving Family," Auburn head coach Ryan Wochomurka said. "Mike's experience at all levels of the sport from the club level to SEC to head coaching experience will be of immense value not only to our student-athletes but to our staff and support staff as well. "Mike has incredible swimming knowledge, but his ability to guide and shape young people into champions for life and provide a transformational Auburn experience is precisely what we needed in completing our coaching staff. I am personally very grateful for the opportunity and excited to work with Mike in building great Auburn Men and Women." In Simpson's three seasons at South Carolina, the Gamecocks had four individual conference champions and 17 individuals earn All-America honors. His return to Auburn marks a homecoming of sorts for both he and his wife, Kathi. "After spending 12 summers doing Auburn swim camps years ago and falling in love with Auburn, I cannot believe I get a chance to be a part of the Auburn program," Simpson said. Also, my wife swam for the Tigers her freshman year and loved it. We are incredibly excited to be a part of the Auburn Family, and that's what is so appealing about living on the Plains. It's family. I cannot wait to get to Auburn and help Ryan and the incredible staff he has put together to impact the swim team and community." As the head coach at Gardner-Webb, Simpson built both the men's and women's programs from the ground up. In 19 years, he coached 96 all-conference performers with the women climbing as high as 14th nationally and the men as high as 30th during his tenure. In his final year at Gardner-Webb, Simpson saw 26 swimmers qualify for the CSCAA National Invitational meet and had 16 of his student-athletes named all-conference in the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CSCAA) which included three conference champions. The year before (2016-17), both the men's and women's teams finished in the top three at the conference meet while Connor Bos was later named CCSA Schloar-Athlete of the Year. In 2015-16, Nathan Lile became the first GWU male swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships under the direction of Simpson. Lile would also earn the NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2016 NCAA Championships for attaining the highest cumulative grade point average among student-athletes competing at NCAAs. Competing in the newly formed Coastal Collegiate Sports Association (CCSA), Simpson led Gardner-Webb to a third-place conference finish on both the men's and women's sides with three individual titles in 2007-08, the inaugural season of GWU's men's program. Prior to the CCSA-era, Simpson guided the women's program to four consecutive Northeast Conference Championships from 2003-07 and was also a four-time recipient of NEC Coach of the Year honors. Simpson, who began his coaching career on the club circuit and at the high school level, was named head coach of Gardner-Webb's women's swimming and diving team ahead of their inaugural season in 1999. In the program's first year of existence, he led the Lady Bulldogs to a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships, which was highlighted by a national championship from freshman Melissa Smith in the 1650 freestyle. During his club coaching experience, Simpson led two different teams to second-place finishes at the YMCA National Championships as he coached nationally ranked programs in Ohio, Illinois and Florida. Simpson coached a Jolliet, Illinois, club team that produced five senior national finalists and three Olympic trial qualifiers in addition to setting seven national records. A 1980 graduate of Florida State University, Simpson transferred there from the University of Houston prior to his senior year. A swimmer at Houston, Simpson qualified for the NCAA Division I nationals his sophomore year. Simpson and his wife, Kathi, have four children – Taylor, Saxon, Logan, and Garrett and one grandson, Mason Liam Jackson.

Former Auburn All-American Ryan Wochomurka (WAH-kuh-MUR-kah) has been named the Auburn head swimming and diving coach, Director of Athletics Allen Greene announced Friday. A 21-time All-American at Auburn from 2002-05 and member of three national championship teams with the Tigers, Wochomurka spent the previous six seasons as head coach at the University of Houston where he led the Cougars to five straight women's American Athletic Conference Championships. "We are thrilled to announce Ryan Wochomurka as the new leader of our swimming and diving program," Director of Athletics Allen Greene said. "Ryan's proven to be an effective communicator and relationship builder, resulting in exceptional recruiting and the development of championship teams as the head coach at the University of Houston. In addition, his achievements as a 21-time All-American and three-time national champion swimmer at Auburn, and the respect he's earned within the collegiate swimming community, uniquely qualified this Auburn man to lead his alma mater. We're delighted to welcome Ryan, Leigh, Hayes and Hallie back to the Plains." Under the direction of Wochomurka, not only did the Houston women win five straight conference championships, but the program earned numerous All-Conference honors, broke countless program records in the pool and performed well academically with several student-athletes named to the CSCAA Scholar All-American Team. Wochomurka was the AAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year every year from 2017 to 2021. "My family and I are honored and humbled for the opportunity to serve as the head coach at Auburn University," Wochomurka said. "I am very thankful to Mr. Allen Greene, President Gogue, the Board of Trustees, and our proud alumni for the opportunity to lead our Auburn men and women in the pool. "It is hard to truly encapsulate into words the impact that Auburn Swimming and Diving has had on my life, and we will strive tirelessly to the very best of our ability to provide the same incredible Auburn experience to our current student-athletes that has shaped the lives of so many that have come before. The rich history and tradition of this program is second to none, and we have an incredible opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants as we look to the future. 'I believe in Auburn and love it.' WAR EAGLE!" In 2020-21, Wochomurka and his staff enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in Houston Swimming and Diving history. The Cougars would sit atop The American at the conclusion of the season, capturing their fifth consecutive league title and scoring the most points by a women's team in championship history. Under the tutelage of Wochomurka and his staff, Mykenzie Leehy and Ioanna Sacha were named Co-AAC Swimmers of the year, Laura Garcia-Marin earned Freshman of the year honors, and Wochomurka earned his fifth consecutive AAC Women's Coach of the Year award. The success did not stop there for the Cougars as Houston sent three women to the NCAA Championships, including a diver for the first time since 2015. The Cougars solidified themselves as a powerhouse at the NCAA Women's Championships, scoring the program's most points at the meet since 2011 and earning the highest finish of any non-major conference team in attendance. The 2019-20 season ended early because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Houston left no doubt that it was the team to beat in The American, capturing 17 individual championships in its home pool and accumulating the second-most points by a women's team in AAC Championships history. The Cougars swept the relays for the second straight year and added a sweep of the diving events to its resume. Prior to becoming the head coach at Houston, Wochomurka spent eight seasons on staff at the University of Louisville. Ahead of the 2014-15 season, he was promoted to associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the men's team. During his time there, Louisville won two men's championships and three women's championships in the Big East Conference and swept the men's and women's American Athletic Conference titles in 2014. Under Wochomurka's leadership, the Cardinals also experienced tremendous success on a national level. The women's program finished sixth at the 2015 NCAA Championships, a school record, and Kelsi Worrell won national championships in both the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events. It was the fourth-straight top-25 finish for the women. On the men's side, Louisville placed in the top 25 every year from 2010-2015, including top-15 finishes in 2012, 2014 and 2015. With Wochomurka in his corner, Louisville's Carlos Almeida was the NCAA champion in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2012, while Joao De Lucca won NCAA titles in the 200-yard freestyle in 2013 and both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle in 2014. An accomplished swimmer in his own right, Wochomurka was a 21-time All-American during his collegiate career at Auburn University and was part of three NCAA national championship teams. Individually, Wochomurka won NCAA titles in both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and captured eight Southeastern Conference championships. In addition to his success at Auburn, Wochomurka represented the United States at the 2003 FINA World Championships, where he was a silver medalist in the 4x100 free relay. He was also a 2004 Olympic Trials finalist and a two-time FINA World Cup Silver Medalist.