The American Swimming Coaches Association announced today that exceptional coaches Ernie Maglischo and John Morse will be inducted into the ASCA Hall of Fame on September 3 at the World Clinic in Reno, Nevada.
Maglischo is a revered coach and respected author who is the only coach to have won NCAA titles with three different universities. Morse recently retired as the head coach of Nashville Aquatics Club after 40 years there, where his long list of accomplishments includes coaching Olympic medalists Gretchen Walsh, Alex Walsh, and Ashley Whitney.
The ASCA Hall of Fame recognizes the greatest swimming coaches in the United States. Inductees into the Hall of Fame have produced world class athletes and winning teams. The coaches in the Hall of Fame are recognized for creating innovative coaching methodologies and contributing to the overall advancement of swimming in the United States.
The induction ceremony will take place on September 3, 2025, at the Peppermill Reno Resort during the 2025 ASCA World Clinic. For more information on the ASCA World Clinic, go to www.ascaworldclinic.com.
About the 2025 Inductees:
ASCA HOF: Ernie Maglischo
Ernie Maglischo is a distinguished coach and author in the world of competitive swimming, with a remarkable career spanning several decades. He is renowned for his work with numerous top athletes, including Olympic swimmers and NCAA champions. His coaching achievements are unparalleled, having won NCAA Division II or III National Championships at three different universities: Chico State, Oakland University, and Cal State Bakersfield. Maglischo has also led his teams to 19 conference championships across these institutions, and his coaching legacy includes guiding swimmers like Roque Santos, David Santos, and Jim Johnson to Olympic Trials and NCAA All-American honors. Additionally, his tenure at Arizona State University from 1993 to 1998 saw the Sun Devils finish in the top 11 at the NCAA Championships in both 1997 and 1998, with multiple swimmers earning All-America honors.
In addition to his coaching career, Maglischo has made significant contributions to the sport through his publishing and service. He has authored seven books on competitive swimming, including the Swimming Faster series and A Primer for Swimming Coaches series. His expertise has been recognized internationally, having served as a consultant for the U.S. Olympic Swim Team in 1984, 1988, and 1992, and as a coach for the Ecuadorian Olympic Swim Team in 1996. Maglischo’s commitment to the swimming community extends to his involvement in various organizations, including serving on the NCAA Swimming Rules Committee and the USA Swimming Sports Medicine Council.
ASCA HOF: John Morse
John Morse is an accomplished coach with an illustrious career spanning from 1984 to 2025 at the Nashville Aquatic Club. A three-time USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year and 11-time Southeastern Swimming Coach of the Year, Morse has led his teams to over 40 LSC Team Championship titles and developed more than 65 swimmers who have qualified for the 18 and Under Olympic Trials. His coaching success includes producing 31 National or National Junior Team members, 26 National Finalists, and coaching three athletes—Ashley Whitney, Alex Walsh, and Gretchen Walsh—who went on to win Olympic medals. His exceptional leadership has made a lasting impact on the sport, building a legacy of excellence at the local, national, and international levels.
Morse’s international coaching experience further underscores his expertise and influence in the swimming world. He served as the Head Coach for multiple USA Junior Pan Pacific Teams (2010, 2014, and 2016) and the USA National Junior Team in 2009, as well as assisting with teams at the Pan American Games and Junior Pan Pacific events in the early 2010s. His governance experience includes key roles with USA Swimming, such as Chair of the Senior Committee and membership in the Club Development and National Time Standards Committees. Additionally, Morse has contributed significantly to Southeastern Swimming, serving on its Board of Directors in various leadership positions, including Senior Chairman, Technical Planning Director, Outreach Director, and Swim-a-Thon Director.
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