The number of men's swimming teams in Nebraska has just doubled.
Midland University has announced the appointment of Ryan Bubb as the institution's first-ever men's and women's swimming coach. The hire coincides with the university's announcement of the addition of swimming, increasing Midland's total number of varsity sports offered to 31.
"I am excited to open a new chapter in Nebraska's swimming history with Midland University," Bubb said. "It is an honor to help bring swimming to a university that is so passion about its student-athletes. This is a great opportunity to help enrich the lives of young people in the Fremont community and the swimming community as a whole."
Bubb, a Lincoln, Nebraska, native, graduated from The Ohio State University where he was a four-year letter winner on the swim team. Bubb was a three-time Scholar-Athlete recipient, a two-time Ben Ten All-Academic honoree and the Buckeyes' team captain in 2014.
He qualified for the Olympic Swim Trials as a sophomore in 2012 and once again in 2016 in the 50 freestyle.
Bubb swam at Lincoln East High School prior to attending Ohio State where he was a five-time state champion and held two state records. He was also a member of the 2010 U-18 National Team.
After earning his bachelor's degree from Ohio State, Bubb has coached at Heartland Aquatics and Lincoln Southwest High School. Under his guidance the Lincoln Southwest girls' team won the 2016 state championship.
Bubb will spend the next 12 months recruiting student-athletes with the Warriors' inaugural season slated to begin in 2017-18.
Already home to the largest athletic department in Nebraska, men's and women's swimming will join varsity powerlifting and the region's first varsity-level eSports program as Midland's newest sports. Through the university's longstanding partnership with the Fremont Family YMCA, swimmers will compete in the $15 million Dillon Family YMCA Aquatic Center currently under construction near the Midland campus.
"We create opportunities for Midland University students to pursue their passions. The addition of swimming allows even more student-athletes to chase their academic and athletic aspirations," said Midland University President Jody Horner. "We know that students who are engaged in extracurricular activities are more successful academically, and we are pleased to be able to give swimmers across Nebraska an opportunity to compete while earning their education."
When completed, the state-of-the-art YMCA Aquatic Center will feature a Myrtha pool and diving well from the same company that supplied the pools for the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials in Omaha. The new pool can be configured for either twelve 25-yard lanes of six 50-meter lanes for competitive swimming.
"We are thrilled Midland students will have the opportunity to train and compete in a cutting edge aquatic center, just across the street from campus," said Midland University Director of Athletics Dave Gillespie. "The Fremont Family YMCA is building a facility unlike any other in the state, and we are thrilled to partner in growing competitive swimming in Nebraska."
