Virginia Swimming & Diving coach Augie Busch named head coach at Arizona

Update, 5:45 p.m. Saturday: In a release about Busch’s departure, UVa athletic director Craig Littlepage said, “Our swimming and diving programs had a number of outstanding accomplishments during Augie’s four years at UVA and I would like to thank him for all he did while directing the program. We wish him luck as he returns to his roots in Arizona.”

Update, 2:10 p.m. Saturday: Arizona has officially announced Busch’s appointment as their swimming and diving coach. Virginia has yet to release a statement.

Original story, 12:30 p.m. Saturday: Multiple outlets are reporting that Virginia swim coach Augie Busch is set to leave the program after four years to return to his alma mater, the University of Arizona.

Busch was an assistant at UA under his father, Frank, from 2003-11. He coached the Houston women for two years before taking the reins of the co-ed Virginia program after Mark Bernardino’s controversial retirement in 2013.

Neither school has publicly confirmed the move. The reports also say two of Busch’s assistants, Cory Chitwood and his brother Sam, will leave with him to Tuscon. No word on third assistant Clif Robbins as of this writing.

Busch’s tenure was highlighted by the rise of Leah Smith to the top of the swimming world. Smith’s team won the gold at last summer’s Rio Olympics in the 4x200m freestyle relay (one of her teammates was named Ledecky or something); individually, she won the 400m and 800m freestyle titles at last December’s FINA Short Course World Championships and the 400m individual medley and 1500m freestyle in last week’s World Championship qualifiers.

Stay with Streaking The Lawn for further updates on this developing story.