BERKELEY – The California men's swimming & diving program has added internationally renowned coach David Marsh to its coaching staff on an interim basis, head coach David Durden announced Wednesday.
 
Marsh will assist Durden and volunteer assistant coach Matt Martinez through the remainder of the 2021-22 season while assistant coach Chase Kreitler is away from the program on paternity leave. Marsh will join the Golden Bears in early February.
 
"In the time leading up to this decision, Chase and I spoke about the birth of his son and how impactful of a moment it will be for him and his wife, Liz, and their family," Durden said. "Chase will have plenty more impactful professional opportunities in his career, but only a few of these life-changing moments; the time he'll be able to spend with his son and family is irreplaceable.
 
"As Chase temporarily leaves the pool deck, we're fortunate to bring in a coach with tremendous success on the world stage and the NCAA level in David Marsh," Durden added. "With this transition, our program won't miss a beat as we enter February and reach the apex of our season in late March. We're excited to welcome David – and welcome back his wife, Kristin, a former Cal swimmer – to Bear Territory. I'm excited to work with David again and I'm thrilled for our guys to experience the coaching acumen that David will bring to the pool deck day in and day out."
 
A 2021 International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee, Marsh is the founder and director of Team Elite Aquatics, considered to be one of the top professional swimming training groups in the United States. Marsh served as the U.S. Olympic Women's Head Coach in 2016 and was a three-time U.S. Olympic Men's Assistant Coach in 1996, 2000 and 2012.
 
Marsh was the head coach at Auburn from 1990-2007, leading the Tigers to an unparalleled run of success with seven men's NCAA team championships (1997, '99, 2003, '04, '05, '06, '07) and five women's NCAA team championships (2002, '03, '04, '06, '07). He amassed 17 SEC titles (13 men's, four women's) while at Auburn. Durden was an assistant coach on Marsh's Auburn staff from 2000-05, helping the Tiger men's and women's teams to six national championships during that span.
 
"I have watched, talked and remained close friends with Dave and Cathy through Cal's reemergence as a true powerhouse in collegiate swimming," Marsh said. "The culture of Cal's program is unmatched in our sport at any level. My wife, Kristin, swam and graduated from Berkeley in the late 80s, so this will be a fun adventure on many levels. Go Bears!"
 
A native of Miami, Florida, Marsh has coached more than 60 Olympians from 20-plus countries. His swimmers have combined to win 89 individual NCAA titles and 277 individual SEC titles. He was also the head coach at UC San Diego from 2017-19, and most recently led the LA Current of the International Swimming League (ISL) during the 2021 season.
 
Marsh earned his degree in business administration in 1981 from Auburn, where he was a five-time All-American backstroker.
 
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