How to Read the National Team Director Job Posting

USA Swimming released the criteria that they will use to choose our next National Team Director today. The posting is full of generalities, but is it possible to read between the lines and see what USA Swimming is looking for?

The posting begins with the message that has come consistently from Colorado Springs: their goal is to "[maintain] the #1 ranked national swim team in the world." Anything short of this is considered failure in the US, that has gone mostly unchallenged as the world's #1 swimming power since at least the 1960s.

Beyond that, however, there are a few interesting bullet points listed. In fact, you could read all of them as a direct stab at outgoing director Mark Schubert. When Schubert was fired, the rumblings out of Colorado Springs was that he had trouble "getting along". To that end, USA Swimming is apparently looking for someone with:

"[a] relationship-building philosophy...team player...positive attitude...communications skills that are positive"

However, they also are apparently looking for someone with "strong moral character". It seems that every time I bring it up a cranky commenter comes out of the woodwork to call me young, dumb know-it-all, but is Executive Director Chuck Wielgus really in a position to judge moral character?

I've had the conversation with many people since Schubert's suspension and firing about who would make the ideal next National Team Director. To be honest, I have a hard time thinking of anyone. There are only a handful of coaches in America that have had the kind of coaching success that Schubert had, and how many of them will be climbing all over themselves to work for the man who fired him?

The situation is compounded by the fact that team USA's dominance is being threatened from all sides. Now that all the 2010 long course meets have concluded with the Asian Games, consider the following figures:

-For the second year in a row, the men's National Team does not have the #1 ranked swimmer in the world in a single freestyle event

-The 200 backstroke remains a stronghold for US men, but only one swimmer (Matt Grevers) was within a second of Camille Lacourt in the 100.

-The men were even farther back in the 100 and 200 breaststroke

-For the first time since 2005, when he didn't even contest the event at Worlds, Michael Phelps is not the top ranked 200 butterflyer in the World

-Thank goodness we still have Lochte

As for the women

-Also not ranked #1 in any freestyle, backstroke, or individual medley event

-Hungary has two 200 IMers faster than anyone in the United States

-Thank goodness we still have Rebecca Soni

The sky is not falling and young talent is most certainly on the way, but the next national team director will have to take charge immediately with Olympic Trials only a year and a half away.