Air Force Academy

July 14, 2011

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Anthony Boettcher has been named Air Force men's swimming assistant coach, announced today by head coach Rob Clayton. Boettcher comes to the Academy with nearly 30 years of coaching experience.

Boettcher is a lifelong resident of Colorado, grew up swimming here, and brings nearly 30 years of experience as a club coach in the state. He is excited about bringing that experience to the USAFA Men's team.

"I'm thrilled to bring Anthony on board," Clayton said. "I've long thought that he was the top USA Swimming coach in Colorado. He is meticulous with stroke mechanics, an excellent motivator, and has impeccable character. He's developed athletes that have performed at the highest level in our sport--and he's done it consistently through the years. We're very fortunate that Anthony took the job."

Boettcher comes to the Academy most recently from Falfins Swimming, a USA Swimming club team in the Colorado Springs area, and has coached seasonally in the Denver area as the head coach for the Wheat Ridge Piranhas (1982-1990), and as a year round USA Swimming Coach in the town of Evergreen.

"I grew up here in Colorado and have always been a fan of the Air Force Academy, as a sports fan growing up, and for their mission of developing the best young men and women in the country to serve their country," Boettcher said. "To be in the position to assist these athletes and the Academy in their mission is an honor and dream come true for me".

As the head coach for the Evergreen swim team from 1990- 2005, Boettcher built a powerhouse, posting consistent top 10 finishes at the Colorado State Junior Olympics. His athletes there won over sixty individual state titles, five relay titles, and set numerous state records. Athletes from the Evergreen Swim Team have competed at Zones, Sectionals, Junior and Senior Nationals, and Olympic Trials, with 20-plus athletes going on to compete at NCAA Division I schools, and one representing the USA at the World University Games in 2000.

During his time at Evergreen, Boettcher was named the Colorado Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year in 1998, 2003 and 2005 for his work at the club level, and was the Colorado High School Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002 as well.

Moving on to a new challenge in 2005, as the age group coach at Falfins Swimming in Colorado Springs, he continued to produce state champions and state record holders, and helped that club grow from 130 swimmers to over 200. Boettcher took the reins as the head coach in April, 2007 and has remained there until his recent move to the Academy.

Boettcher has also invested 17 years as a volunteer for Colorado Swimming, Inc., and USA Swimming.

"Anthony will make an immediate impact on the program, Clayton said. "He knows swimming, and also understands the overall aim of the Air Force Academy--developing leaders of character for the Air Force and for the nation. He will be a terrific asset to the program, the athletic department, and the entire Air Force Academy."