University of Texas Women’s Head Coach Kim Brackin Signs with TYR through 2012

TYR — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:50:44 +0000

TYR Sport, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of University of Texas women’s head coach Kim Brackin to a multi-year partnership through 2012. With years of coaching experience at the collegiate, national, and international level, as well as extensive expertise in technique analysis, Brackin promises to add widespread value to the TYR community.

Brackin has served as head coach of TYR-sponsored University of Texas’ women’s program since 2006. The program’s accomplishments under her leadership include a fifth place finish at the 2009 NCAA Championships, a 2009 Big 12 Championship title, and the development of numerous All-Americans and Big-12 conference champions. She came to Texas after an eight year stint at Auburn University (1997-2005), serving as co-head coach of the women’s team in her last three years. During her tenure, the program captured seven NCAA Championship titles, and Brackin was named the 2002 NCAA Women’s Swimming Co-Head Coach of the Year and the 2003 SEC Swimming Co-Head Coach of the Year.

“TYR has worked with Kim before, when she was at Auburn helping that team win multiple NCAA championships, so when she took over such an historic program like the Longhorns, there was no hesitation on our part to want to work together again” said Promotions Director Matt Zimmer. “Kim has always been a part of the TYR family, and we couldn’t be happier to be a partner with her again. We know there are more championship rings in her future.”

Brackin is also known for her extensive background on the international level. Acting as head coach of the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games for Zimbabwe, she guided former Auburn stand-out Kirsty Coventry to the South African country’s first Olympic medal in swimming. Coventry captured a combined seven medals in the Olympic games, including two gold medals, while breaking two world records in the process. Brackin was also on the Panama coaching staff for the 2003 World Championships, as well as the USA coaching staff at the 2003 World University Games, and the 2002 US National Junior Team.

“I am thrilled to rejoin the TYR family, this time as a Texas Longhorn,” said coach Brackin. “I am confident that the Texas women’s swimming team will exemplify what TYR strives for daily, which is excellence in the competitive arena. Beyond the innovative approach TYR takes to designing high-performance suits, it was its commitment to athletes and coaches to help us win championships that brought me back to TYR.”

Invested in supporting excellence in all facets of competitive swimming, TYR also sponsors Sean Hutchison, currently the head of KING Aquatics and the 2009 USA World Championship Team Head Coach,coach Bill Rose of Mission Viejo-a 2008 USA Olympic Games coach, head diving coach for Indiana University and 2009 World Championship Team head Jeff Huber, and French Swimming Federation coach Lionel Horter.

Big Night for TYR at 2009 World Championship Trials

TYR — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 23:53:09 +0000

The IUPUI pool in Indianapolis, IN set the stage Friday evening for TYR swimmers to shine at the 2009 ConocoPhillips USA Swimming National Championships and World Championship Trials. Matt Grevers and Mary DeScenza both qualified for the U.S. team to compete at the championships in Rome, Italy beginning on July 22nd. TYR’s coach Kim Brackin of University of Texas also placed a swimmer on the roster, adding to the night’s overall success.

In the final of the men’s 100m freestyle, Grevers arrived from the ready room dressed in TYR’s
new Tracer Sayonara™. After placing eighth in the preliminaries in a 49.01, he stepped on the blocks of lane eight ready to be the heat’s outside smoke. Going out in a blazing 22.89-the fastest in the field- he did just that.

“I knew I had to race with nothing to lose. So I did, “said Grevers. “I went out fast trying on the new Sayonara and it worked out great. I felt so much better tonight in the water.”

Grevers held on the second fifty to place fourth overall, touching in a lifetime best 48.27. The time positioned him on the men’s 400m freestyle relay in Rome, Italy at the World Championships- the same event he is a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in.

“I wanted that so bad tonight,” Grevers said of making the relay team. “Being a part of the relay team in Beijing was incredible and I knew I wanted to be a part of that again. This is awesome.”

Immediately following Grever’s performance, DeScenza entered the final heat of the women’s 200m butterfly seated third. Already dropping half a second three nights before in the 100m butterfly (57.77) where she placed fourth, it would take another personal best to make the team.

DeScenza entered the turn at the 150m in third place, and used her back end speed to close in on the competition, splitting 33.21 on the last 50m. The effort resulted in the fastest time of DeScenza’s career- 2:07.13. Touching second, she reached her goal of making the U.S. roster for the championships.

“I am so excited I am going to Rome,” DeScenza exclaimed. “I just wanted to swim my own race and not worry about what was going on around me. It has been a really hard week and I am happy I was able to come out on top!”

Also excited and relieved after the race was University of Texas’ head womens coach Brackin, who watched as her swimmer finished first, also securing a spot on the World Championship team roster.

“It felt great to watch her make the team,” Brackin said. “She deserves to be in Rome. She works hard and is a talented kid. Right now I feel excitement, relief, and pride for her.”

With only one more day left at the championships, sign on to TYR.com to share in the enthusiasm of TYR’s swimmers and coaches as they look to add more swims to their trip in Rome.

TYR News » Brackin

University of Texas Women’s Head Coach Kim Brackin Signs with TYR through 2012

Big Night for TYR at 2009 World Championship Trials