The nominees for the National Collegiate Scholastic Trophy were announced today by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The trophy is awarded by both the CSCAA and National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA). It is the highest honor in intercollegiate and interscholastic swimming & diving, and is awarded to the individual who has made "the greatest contribution to swimming as a competitive sport, and as a healthful, recreational activity in the province of undergraduate and scholastic education.”

Todd DeSorbo, Sara Duarte and Pete Hovland are the three finalists. The winner will be selected by CSCAA member coaches and recognized at the 62nd Annual CSCAA College Swimming & Diving Awards on May 8th in Orlando, Florida.

The Nominees

Todd DeSorbo, University of Virginia

Todd DeSorbo has led the Virginia Cavaliers to two NCCA Championships in his five years since being named head coach in 2017. The Cavaliers have surged to national prominence under DeSorbo as UVA became the first program in ACC history to win an NCAA title. Virginia’s women have won back-to-back NCAA Championships (2021 & 2022) and the men have finished in the Top-10 in three-straight. Numerous records have fallen for the Cavaliers, including seven events that saw American, NCAA & US Open records set in 2022. UVA also set an American and ACC record in the 200 free relay on the men’s side in 2022. “Todd’s training philosophies and ability to connect with youth have influenced a generation of his peers” said one of the nominations for DeSorbo.

DeSorbo holds two accounting degrees from UNCW, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1999 and a master’s degree in 2000. A native of Salisbury, N.C., DeSorbo is married to Lauren Suggs. They have one son, Jack, and one daughter, Cate.

Sara Duarte, Mars Hill University

Sara Duarte was named Mars Hill head coach in the summer of 2022. In 2022, Duarte coached male swimmer, Raul Briceño, to a CSCAA National Open Water Title. Prior to Mars Hill, Duarte spent two seasons at Carson-Newman University. Internationally Duarte was a member of the Colombian Swim Team in 2015 and was an Intercollegiate Centro American and Caribbean Games finalist. From 2011-2017, she was a member of the Bogota Swim Team, placing top-three at nationals six years in a row and being named an age group national champion. Nominated by a number of her student-athletes, they said she guides them to not just be great swimmers but to be great students and humans. “Every week Coach Duarte hosts ‘Champions Training’ with her swimmers, teaching a value or an essential skill such as communication, time management, team work.”

Duarte attended Emmanuel from 2016-19, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in graphic design. She was named Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Swimmer of the Week numerous times throughout her career and was named to the Dean’s List several times.

Pete Hovland, Oakland University

The 2022-23 season marks Pete Hovaland’s 44th year at the helm of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies men and women’s swimming and diving teams, 42 of those years as the head coach. During his tenure Hovland has captured national championships, multiple conference crowns and led student-athletes to numerous individual accolades and titles. Hovland has been named conference coach of the year 29 times, is a member of the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Summit League Hall of Fame. Hovland announced in January 2023 that he will retire after the 2022-2023 season. "Remarkably, he has led the University's swimming and diving program for over half the University's existence and has achieved incomparable success that is nearly impossible to believe. Despite decades of championship success, one of his most enduring legacies is the thousands of Oakland student-athletes that he coached who have made remarkable contributions in their personal and professional endeavors after they left Oakland,” said Director of Athletics Steve Waterfield. "Coach Hovland's long-and-distinguished career sets the highest standard for consistency, excellence and integrity," said Oakland University President, Ora Hirsch Pescovitz.

Hovland earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education at Chicago State in 1976 and his masters from Northern Iowa in 1979. He was an assistant coach at Chico State and Northern Iowa. In comments regarding his retirement, Hovland said he looks forward to spending more time with valued friends and time to fly-fish a few more rivers and streams.

How to Vote

Only CSCAA Member-coaches are eligible to vote. Each member may vote one time and ballots are open from Friday, February 10 until Friday, February 24.

VOTE NOW

About the National Collegiate Scholastic Trophy

The National Collegiate and Scholastic Swimming Trophy is presented to the coach who, in the estimation of the recipient’s peers, has "the greatest contribution to swimming as a competitive sport, and as a healthful, recreational activity in the province of undergraduate and scholastic education.” The award is presented annually by both the CSCAA and the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA).

Past Award Winners

Fifty-nine different coaches have won the Trophy over the award’s sixty-two years. The recipients include more than two-dozen Olympic coaches. Collectively, the award winners have captured 192 NCAA team titles.

Dave Armbruster, Iowa (1963)
Nick Askew, Howard (2022)
Ron Ballatore, UCLA / Florida (2012)
Jack Bauerle, Georgia (1998)
Hoble Billingsley, Indiana (1990)
Frank Busch, Arizona (2005)
Ray Bussard, Tennessee (1985)
Charles Butt, Bowdoin College (1981)
Bob Busbey, Cleveland State (1983)
Jim Counsilman, Indiana (1975)
Peter Daland, Southern California (1977)
Greg Earhart, Carthage College (2008)
Don Easterling, NC State (1994)
Dr. Samuel Freas, ISHOF (1997)
Jean Freeman, Minnesota (1999)
Donald Gambril, Alabama (1986, 2006)
George Haines, UCLA (1976)
Phil Hansel, Houston (1989)
John Higgins, Navy (1988)
Jon Howell, Emory University (2015)
Frank Keefe, Yale University (2009)

Edward Kennedy, Columbia (1959)
Richard Kimball, Michigan (1987)
Robert Kiphuth, Yale University (1960)
Matt Kredich, Tennessee (2013)
Kris Kubik, Texas (2017)
Peter Linn, Eastern Michigan (2018)
Ernie Maglischo, CSU Bakersfield (1992)
Matt Mann, Oklahoma (1961)
David Marsh, Auburn (2000 and 2003)
Jack McGuire, Iowa State (1978)
Teri McKeever, California (2002)
Don Megerle, Tufts (2007)
Karl Michael, Dartmouth (1967)
Charles McCaffree, Michigan St (1966)
Philip Moriarty, Yale University (1979)
Robert Mowerson, Minnesota (1974)
Robert Muir, Williams College (1969)
Tim Welsh, Notre Dame (2014)
Richard Papenguth, Purdue (1965)
Gregg Parini, Denison University (2011)

Mike Peppe, Ohio State (1962)
Richard Quick, Stanford (2001)
Eddie Reese, Texas (1993)
Jack Ryan, Army / West Point (1984)
Soichi Sakamato, Hawaii (1968)
Joel Shinofield, CSCAA/USA Swimming (2020)
Charles Silvia, Springfield (1971)
Eddie Sinnott, Southern Methodist (2019)
Alfred Barr, Southern Methodist (1972)
Gus Stager, Michigan (1980)
Richard Steadman, Monmouth (1982)
Jim Steen, Kenyon (1995)
Susan Teeter, Princeton (2017)
Nort Thornton, California (1991)
David Robertson, New Trier HS (1970)
Gregg Troy, Florida (2010)
Harold Ulen, Harvard University (1964)
Jon Urbanchek, Michigan (1996 and 2004)
Ted Webster, Syracuse (1973)
Gregg Wilson, UC Santa Barbara (2016)