LSU swimming and diving coach Adam Schmitt has resigned from his position, Athletic Director Joe Alleva announced April 6.
“I want to thank Adam for his efforts during the time that he spent here as the head coach of our swimming and diving program,” Alleva said in a news release. “We wish Adam and his family success in any of their future endeavors.”
The announcement of Schmitt’s resignation came a week after the end of a swimming season in which the No. 19 Tigers and No. 25 Lady Tigers each had 0-4 records against Southeastern Conference opponents.
The Lady Tigers ended the season with a 6-6 record and a 30th place finish in the NCAA Championships. The Tigers had a 3-6 record and finished 29th in the NCAA Championships.
Schmitt, a 1989 LSU graduate and former Tiger swimmer, coached the team for six seasons.
The Lady Tigers had two top-20 NCAA finishes during Schmitt’s tenure, finishing 17th in 2007 and 16th in 2009.
Senior captain Sean LeNeave said Miriam Segar, associate athletic director of student services, met with team members several times about their personal feelings about Schmitt.
LeNeave said the announcement did not come as a shock to the team.
“For the program to excel further, it was in the team’s best interest to have a head coach that everyone trusted, subscribed to and believed in,” LeNeave said in an e-mail. “Unfortunately, the majority of the team no longer saw that in Adam.”
LeNeave said fifth-year assistant coach David Geyer would win the vote “100 percent” if the team picked the next coach.
“The team in its whole entirety has the most confidence and respect for Dave as a coach and a person,” LeNeave said. “He is the one to hold most of the team together in hard times. He teaches the necessary discipline without going a step overboard. His passion is the swimmer and their best interest, and he has showed that to every single                athlete who has been under him.”
Alleva said in the release that a search for Schmitt’s replacement would begin immediately.
Attempts to reach Schmitt, Segar, Alleva and Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette were unsuccessful.—-Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected]