WASHINGTON - Garland Bartlett, an assistant coach for American University men’s and women’s swimming & diving since 2016, has now been named the head coach of the program following a two-month stint as interim head coach.
“I am excited to announce Garland as our newest head coach,” said Director of Athletics & Recreation Dr. Billy Walker. “Her tremendous care for our current student-athletes as well as her boundless enthusiasm for their academic, athletic and personal success ensures great things for the program moving forward.”
Bartlett has spent the past five years working with all aspects of the Eagles' swimming and diving program, but with particular expertise and experience in the distance freestyle events. She has spearheaded recruiting efforts for the program, resulting in the largest and most talented freshman class in years in 2020-21.
While the Eagles dealt with a shortened season in 2020-21 due to COVID-19, as well as holding some meets virtually, they still boasted plenty of individual successes. Liam Riebling was the first member of swimming & diving to earn Top Male Senior Student-Athlete honors for AU Athletics since 2004, and freshman Mimi Watts set three school records in an outstanding debut season.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be named the next head coach of the American University men’s and women’s swimming and diving program," said Bartlett. "I am so excited for the opportunity to continue working with the student-athletes on the team and help them achieve their goals both in and out of the pool. As a team, I am confident we will continue our upward trajectory and keep improving in the Patriot League and on the national level. I would like to thank Dr. Billy Walker, Andrew Smith and the entire search committee for their confidence in me and selecting me to lead this wonderful program. Go Eagles!”
Bartlett came to American from Middlebury College, where the team finished the season with four qualifiers to the NCAA Division III national championships. Prior to that, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach and r ecruiting coordinator at Trinity College and one season as an assistant at The College of New Jersey.
She was an accomplished distance freestyler as a student-athlete at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. She earned four silver medals, two bronze medals and a number of top-8 finishes at the Centennial Conference Championships. She still ranks among Franklin & Marshall's all-time top-10 in the 1,650 freestyle.
Bartlett graduated from Franklin & Marshall in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in American Studies. She also earned a master’s in American Studies at Trinity in 2015.