N.C . State’s swimming and diving program is steeped in rich tradition dating back several decades, yet there is now a level of excitement surrounding the program that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. Head coach Braden Holloway, associate head coach Todd DeSorbo and assistant coaches Steve Thompson and Mallory Houchin have become a part of the Wolfpack swimming and diving staff over the past couple of months, bringing an opulence of freshness to the program.
Holloway, a 2001 graduate of NCSU , returns to the Pack after seven years under the tutelage of head coach Ned Skinner at Virginia Tech. Holloway has very strong ties to the university as a former All-American, All-conference swimmer at State who still holds the school record in the 100-meter backstroke.
“What excites me most about being back at N.C . State is that my family and my wife and I are so familiar with the school and the program which we’ve invested so much into as student athletes,” Holloway said. “I’m excited to be back to carry on everything I’ve been able to learn through my experiences and give back to the program which gave so much to me.”
Holloway will have an abundance of talent and experience by his side in his first season with DeSorbo , Thompson and Houchin on staff. The four seem to each possess their own unique, individual characteristics that will allow the coaching staff to have a very well-rounded approach to coaching and mentoring the team.
DeSorbo , who spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at UNC-Wilmington , will be serving as a sprint and development specialist for the Wolfpack . While with the Seahawks, DeSorbo assisted with student-athlete development and recruiting. The Seahawk women’s team placed in the top three of their conference each year of DeSorbo’s tenure in Wilmington, while the men’s team won five straight CAA titles.
“What impresses me about coach DeSorbo is his true passion for what he does,” Holloway says. “He has a tremendous outward passion and energy. He glows swimming.”
Thompson, who is joining the Pack after six seasons with the Lewis University Flyers, brings with him a great deal of experience from collegiate and club swimming. Thompson will specialize in coaching distance events for the Pack, but also focuses largely on academics. During his tenure with the Flyers, Thompson produced Academic All-American teams in 2007, ’08, ’09, and ’10.
“He’s been a head coach for a long time and he’s learned a lot,” Holloway said. “He’s very good with how he articulates what he’s looking for from his student athlete.”
Another new staff member who is deemed a great communicator with student-athletes is assistant coach Mallory Houchin . Houchin grew up in Raleigh, watching Wolfpack athletics and learning the basics of swimming at Pullen Park. Houchin , coming off of a historic inaugural season as an assistant coach at Queens University, will primarily focus on middle-distance training and women’s recruiting in her first season with the Pack, serving as a mentor for the women’s team as well.
“I’m excited to be back here with Braden, Todd and Steve. There’s a lot of excitement about where we could go,” Houchin said. “I know a lot of alumni that are pumped about what’s going to happen, what’s already happened, and the energy surrounding the program.”
The rich history and tradition in which N.C . State swimming and diving is steeped, combined with the new, fresh faces of the coaching staff seems to be a consummate blend of experience and youth, wisdom and vigor, which has many people believing that this year could be the start of a new era of greatness within the program.
“From 80-year old alumni to alumni who graduated only two years ago, there’s just so much positive energy surrounding us,” Houchin says. “We can only go up.”
