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Tanner Barton talking to team at Nationals
Peter Wangechi

Tanner Barton Named Head Swimming & Diving Coach at Division I BGSU

| By: JCUSID
Tanner Barton guided the Blue Streaks to 8 OAC Championships in his four seasons.
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Following four great years as Head Coach of John Carroll Swimming & Diving, Tanner Barton is departing University Heights.

Barton has accepted the head coach position at Bowling Green State University. 

"We are incredibly grateful to Tanner for the contributions that he has made to our swimming & diving programs over the last several years," said JCU's Director of Athletics Brian Polian '97. "Not only did he continue the strong tradition of competitive excellence here at John Carroll, he raised the standard. He has been an outstanding coach and mentor to our student-athletes, a wonderful ambassador for our university, and a great friend within the department. We are excited for him to get his opportunity at the Division I level and wish him nothing but the best."

Barton guided the Blue Streaks to Ohio Athletic Conference Championships on the men's and women's sides in each of his four seasons at JCU. 

Across his four seasons, John Carroll notched 21 CSCAA (College Swimming Coaches Association of America) First Team All-Americans and 11 CSCAA First Team Scholar All-Americans. The Blue Streaks tallied 27 OAC records and secured 104 conference championship titles (68 individual, 36 relays).  

This past season, Barton steered John Carroll to its eighth straight OAC crown, highlighted by OAC Swimmer of the Year honors for Olivia Goodman and Forrest Campbell. Barton and his staff captured both the OAC Men's & Women's Coaching Staff of the Year awards. The Men's 200 Medley Relay and Campbell punched tickets to the NCAA Division III National Championships. 

In 2023, JCU Women's Swimming & Diving's point total of 1,038 points was the highest for any swimming & diving team, regardless of gender, at the OAC Championships. At the National Championships, JCU notched 4 individual All-Americans (including the  NCAA D-III Runner-Up in the 100 Back, Liam McDonnell) and 3 All-American relays. 

In 2022, the Men's side won all five relays and sent all five to the NCAA Championships. The Blue & Gold also broke a total of nine OAC records and earned 12 NCAA B cuts. In 2021, the Blue Streaks set records for points at the OAC Championships (1,027 by the men, 1,017 by the women). The Blue Streaks notched a combined nine conference records, won 19 individual events, and all 10 relays. Despite the 2021 NCAA Championships being canceled due to COVID-19, the Blue Streaks notched 8 All-Americans and three of his relays were nationally ranked in the Top 3 at the end of the season. 

Barton's staff won the OAC Coaching Staff of the Year award seven times across men's and women's. 

"A national search has already begun to identify a replacement that can not only continue our rich tradition in swimming, but also someone that is ready to help shepherd the program forward into the NCAC in the near future," said Polian.
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