THE FLATS – Georgia Tech swimming and diving assistant coach Michael Norment was named a finalist for the 2022 American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year award, the ASCA announced this month.
The Yellow Jackets’ assistant coach was among six finalists who garnered the recognition by the ASCA for their work in the 2021-22 year. The award is given annually to the individual whose coaching effectiveness has contributed the most toward American swimming excellence at the World level.
“I’m extremely honored to be named alongside these great coaches for this humbling award,” Norment said. “Whether I’m working with Nic or with our swimmers at Georgia Tech, coaching is my life and I love what I do. There isn’t anywhere I’d rather be than around the pool and it gives me great joy to see my swimmers succeed and fulfill their dreams.”
In addition to his work with Georgia Tech, Norment also coached gold medalist Nic Fink, a Morristown, N.J. native who won three gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal at the 2021 World Short Course Championships in relay and individual breaststroke events. He then captured a gold, tie for first and a silver in individual breaststroke events in the 2022 World Trials before capping his season by becoming the first American male to win gold in the 50 breast at the World Championships by setting the American record. He also took home a gold in the 4×100 mixed medley relay.
With the Yellow Jackets, Norment was a part of a coaching staff that helped lead the men’s team to a No. 21-ranked finish nationally. Overall between the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, Tech produced five All-America honors, seven NCAA qualifiers and eight CSCAA Scholar All-Americans.
“I’m so happy for Mike to be recognized by the ASCA for this award and he’s 100 percent deserving of it,” Toni M. and Richard L. Bergmark Swimming and Diving Head Coach Courtney Shealy Hart said. “It’s an absolute privilege to have Mike on our staff and I couldn’t be happier to have him with us working with our swimmers every day.”
Norment is in his fourth year working with the Georgia Tech sprinters. He joined the Jackets’ staff after founding the Metro Atlanta Aquatic Club (MAAC) in 2013 and coaching a plethora of NCSA Junior National swimmers to individual titles. In the pool, the Hempstead, N.Y. native compiled an impressive resume of his own, earning NCAA All-America honors eight times while also being selected to the U.S. National Team twice (1997, 1998).
The 2022 winner will be announced on Sept. 8 at the awards banquet held during the ASCA World Clinic at the Westgate Resort in Las Vegas.
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