Head Coach Brian Barnes talks about the success of the first Coaches vs. Cancer Clinic
Brian Barnes joined the University of Notre Dame as head of the women's swimming and diving program in August 2008 after serving as an assistant coach at Auburn since 2005.
"It's an absolute honor to be here at Notre Dame," Barnes said at his hiring. "My coaching career has now gone full circle, beginning as a club coach for 10-year-olds and practicing at (Notre Dame's) Rolfs Aquatic Center to being the head coach here."
"This school is one of the finest academic institutions in the world, and I certainly believe that you also can have high levels of success here at Notre Dame in women's swimming and diving."
During his time with the Irish, Barnes has continued the program's winning ways by securing the 14th and 15th consecutive BIG EAST titles in 2009 and 2010. The streak is the longest in BIG EAST history regardless of sport. For his efforts, he earned BIG EAST Coach of the Year both seasons.
During those campaigns, the program brought home 18 championships, five relay and 13 individual, 13 second place finishes, two relay and 11 individual, and nine third-place finishes, two relay and seven individual. All totaled, Irish student-athletes claimed 67 All-BIG EAST awards.
During that time span, junior diver Natalie Stitt earned BIG EAST Most Outstanding Diver accolades in 2009 after winning the one and three-meter dives, while junior Samantha Maxwell claimed BIG EAST Most Oustanding Swimmer honors in 2010 after having a hand in four titles (100 and 200 breast, 200 and 400 medley relay).
Barnes also coached a pair of All-Americans in Maxwell and Amywren Miller. Maxwell earned All-America honors in the 100 breast and honorable mention in the 200 breast as a sophomore in 2009 and honorable mention in the 100 breast as a junior in 2010. Miller received All-America accolades as a junior in 2010 in the 50 free. Stitt also advanced to nationals in 2009 in the one-meter dive.
Six swimmers also participated in the 2009 World Championship Trials.
Despite claiming second at the 2011 BIG EAST Championships, thus ending Notre Dame's dominant streak, the Irish racked up the accolades, winning seven titles, two relay and five individual, and earning 29 All-BIG EAST scrolls.
Maxwell returned to the NCAA Championships in 2011, and was joined by sophomore Kim Holden, who competed in three events.
During the summer, five Notre Dame swimmers, including incoming freshman Bridget Casey, competed at the ConocoPhillips National Championships. For her efforts in the 200 fly, Casey earned a spot on the USA Swimming National Junior Team.
A summary of accolades involving the Notre Dame women's swimming and diving during Barnes' tenure include two All-Americans, two honorable mention All-Americans, six NCAA qualifiers among four athletes in 15 events, two BIG EAST team titles, 25 BIG EAST combined relay and individual titles, 96 All-BIG EAST honors, two BIG EAST Coach of the Year awards, one BIG EAST Most Outstanding Swimmer award and one BIG EAST Most Outstanding Diver award.
The Irish also currently own five BIG EAST meet records (100 back, 100 and 200 breast, 300 medley relay and three-meter dive) that were set during Barnes tenure. Thirteen of the 21 school records have fallen during Barnes time with the program.
In addition to stellar performance in the pool, the Irish program has enjoyed their top four semesters of highest team grade point average under Barnes guidance.
In 2011, Barnes created and ran the first annual Mich. Coaches vs. Cancer Fighting Irish Swim Clinic. The clinic, saw almost 100 kids age 8-18 participate, raised more than $5,000 towards the local RiverBend Cancer Services and the American Cancer Society. Barnes anticipates making the worthy cause an annual occurrence.
Before coming to Notre Dame, the Osceola, Ind., native helped guide both the Auburn men's and women's swimming teams to NCAA Championships in 2006 and 2007. The men won the Southeastern Conference meet three times from 2006-08, while the women picked up a pair of league titles during that span. In 2008, Auburn's men placed fifth at the NCAA meet, with the women posting a runner-up performance.
Overall, Barnes helped mentor 291 All-Americans in his three years as an assistant, including 11 individual and six relay titles between the two teams. In the SEC, the women produced 15 individual titles and eight relay titles during Barnes three seasons, while the men had 12 individual and relay titles.
Barnes spent three seasons (2002-05) as the assistant men's swimming coach at his alma mater, Indiana University. He helped coach the 2005 Hoosiers to their highest finish at the NCAA Championships since 1991 and their first 10-win dual meet season since 1985. In 2005, Indiana garnered 29 All-America honors, the most since 1976, and finished second at the Big Ten Conference Championships. In 2004, the Hoosiers had five All-Americans and finished 17th at the NCAA Men's Championships. Overall, Barnes helped tutor 93 All-Americans and seven Big Ten champions while with the Hoosiers.
Barnes was a highly accomplished swimmer during his career at Indiana from 1992-95. He was a two-time All-American and a five-time honorable mention All-American. His school record in the 400 Individual Medley stood for more than 15 years from 1992 until 2007. A two-time team most valuable swimmer, he served as team captain during his senior campaign.
The two-time Indiana Swimming Male Swimmer of the Year (1989, 1995) was also a member of the USA Swimming National Team in 1989 and 1992. Barnes was a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier in 1992 and 1996.
A 1995 graduate of Indiana, Barnes earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and is a level-4 certified member of the American Swimming Coaches Association.
Following graduation, Barnes got into coaching with the local Michiana Marlins, a USA Swimming club team that practices in the Rolfs Aquatic Center on the campus of Notre Dame. He also was the assistant coach for two seasons at the University of Kansas and the head coach of the Lawrence (Kan.) Aquahawks swim club from 1998-2002 before heading to his alma mater for three seasons.
In July 2004, Barnes married the former Alyssa Winter of Surry, N.H. They are the parents of Jack, 5, and Caroline, 2.
