Swimming & Diving Expands Staff, Adds Carpenter & Wright as Assistants
7/10/2023 11:08:00 AM | Men's Swim & Dive, Women's Swim & Dive
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State Director of Swimming & Diving Bill Dorenkott has announced the addition of two assistant coaches to the Buckeyes' staff: Graham Carpenter and Norm Wright.
"We are blessed at Ohio State to attract world-class coaches who consistently deliver a world-class experience for our student-athletes," said Dorenkott. "Norm and Graham will continue the legacy of elite coaches who call Columbus home. We could not be more excited and grateful to welcome them both to our Buckeye family."
The Ohio State swimming and diving program is excited to be able to take advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows programs to have up to eight full-time coaches, while eliminating the volunteer coach position. This new rule is expected to have a positive impact on programs across the nation, including for the Buckeyes.
"Graham grew up just down the road in Dublin, Ohio and he has set himself apart as a young, energetic and hungry coach with a passion for the sport," Dorenkott said. "Graham worked with our program over the past season as a volunteer assistant coach and it was apparent that he has what it takes to help elevate our programs. Graham will be tasked with a primary focus on recruiting."
Carpenter spent the 2022-23 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Buckeyes. As a volunteer, Carpenter assisted with recruiting efforts and accompanied student-athletes to outside competitions. He was also responsible for the implementation and management of on-deck equipment, collecting and interpreting training related data, assisting with logistics during team travel and aided in the creation and distribution of social media content.
"Returning to Columbus to work at Ohio State has been an absolute honor and a pleasure," Carpenter said. "I am incredibly grateful for the knowledge, wisdom, experience, and relationships I have gained this past season. I want to thank Coach Dorenkott and the entire staff for the opportunity to continue building upon this experience and come into my second season as a Buckeye with greater confidence as I take on more responsibility and continue to sharpen my skills. Go Bucks!"
Prior to Ohio State, Carpenter had coaching stints at Anderson University and John Carroll University. He was a volunteer coach at Anderson during the 2019-20 season and, at the beginning of the 2020-21 season, he was named the interim head coach of the program. He spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at John Carroll.
Carpenter graduated from Ball State in 2021, earning a degree in criminal justice and criminology. He competed on the swim team at Ball State for one season. Carpenter earned a graduate certificate in non-profit administration from John Carroll in 2022.
"We are excited to welcome Norm and his family home to Ohio," said Dorenkott. "Norm is a born-and-raised Buckeye hailing from Dayton, Ohio. Norm has established himself as one of the top club coaches in the United States with a strong history of having athletes perform at both the national and international levels. Norm will head up our 400 IM efforts with a focus on our more aerobically driven swimmers."
Wright brings over 20 years of coaching experience to Columbus. He most recently served as the head coach for NOVA of Virginia Aquatics Inc. from 2019-23. With NOVA, he helped produce one Olympic Team member, one World Championship Team member and two Junior World Open Water Team members and placed swimmers on the National and Junior National Teams annually. Under Wright, NOVA was named a USA Swimming Gold Medal Podium Club for the first time, and, during his tenure, the club annually swept the LSC Virginia Swimming Senior and Age Group meets and won both the NCSA Junior Nationals and NCSA Age Group Championships.
"Being born and raised in Ohio, the opportunity to coach at The Ohio State University is both unexpected and thrilling," Wright said. "I can't overstate my gratitude and appreciation to Coach Dorenkott and the rest of the staff for placing their confidence in me. With determination and loyalty, I look forward to many years of Buckeye swimming and diving success."
Prior to NOVA, Wright was the CEO and head coach of the Northern Kentucky Clippers from 2015-19 and the Director of Competitive Swimming and Aquatics for the Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club from 2010-15. He had his first Division I coaching job when he served as an assistant at Georgetown from 2009-10.
Wright has served as the head coach of Team USA for the 2022 FINA Junior World Open Water Championship, the 2019 UANA Junior American Open Water Championship and the 2019 USA National Open Water Select Camps. He was also a coach for the 2018 USA National Team OW Altitude Camp and has served as a coach for the USA National Team and the USA Junior National Team.
Wright attended Asbury University, where he qualified for NAIA Nationals and set school records all four years of his career. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in psychology.
"We are blessed at Ohio State to attract world-class coaches who consistently deliver a world-class experience for our student-athletes," said Dorenkott. "Norm and Graham will continue the legacy of elite coaches who call Columbus home. We could not be more excited and grateful to welcome them both to our Buckeye family."
The Ohio State swimming and diving program is excited to be able to take advantage of a new NCAA rule that allows programs to have up to eight full-time coaches, while eliminating the volunteer coach position. This new rule is expected to have a positive impact on programs across the nation, including for the Buckeyes.
"Graham grew up just down the road in Dublin, Ohio and he has set himself apart as a young, energetic and hungry coach with a passion for the sport," Dorenkott said. "Graham worked with our program over the past season as a volunteer assistant coach and it was apparent that he has what it takes to help elevate our programs. Graham will be tasked with a primary focus on recruiting."
Carpenter spent the 2022-23 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the Buckeyes. As a volunteer, Carpenter assisted with recruiting efforts and accompanied student-athletes to outside competitions. He was also responsible for the implementation and management of on-deck equipment, collecting and interpreting training related data, assisting with logistics during team travel and aided in the creation and distribution of social media content.
"Returning to Columbus to work at Ohio State has been an absolute honor and a pleasure," Carpenter said. "I am incredibly grateful for the knowledge, wisdom, experience, and relationships I have gained this past season. I want to thank Coach Dorenkott and the entire staff for the opportunity to continue building upon this experience and come into my second season as a Buckeye with greater confidence as I take on more responsibility and continue to sharpen my skills. Go Bucks!"
Prior to Ohio State, Carpenter had coaching stints at Anderson University and John Carroll University. He was a volunteer coach at Anderson during the 2019-20 season and, at the beginning of the 2020-21 season, he was named the interim head coach of the program. He spent the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach at John Carroll.
Carpenter graduated from Ball State in 2021, earning a degree in criminal justice and criminology. He competed on the swim team at Ball State for one season. Carpenter earned a graduate certificate in non-profit administration from John Carroll in 2022.
"We are excited to welcome Norm and his family home to Ohio," said Dorenkott. "Norm is a born-and-raised Buckeye hailing from Dayton, Ohio. Norm has established himself as one of the top club coaches in the United States with a strong history of having athletes perform at both the national and international levels. Norm will head up our 400 IM efforts with a focus on our more aerobically driven swimmers."
Wright brings over 20 years of coaching experience to Columbus. He most recently served as the head coach for NOVA of Virginia Aquatics Inc. from 2019-23. With NOVA, he helped produce one Olympic Team member, one World Championship Team member and two Junior World Open Water Team members and placed swimmers on the National and Junior National Teams annually. Under Wright, NOVA was named a USA Swimming Gold Medal Podium Club for the first time, and, during his tenure, the club annually swept the LSC Virginia Swimming Senior and Age Group meets and won both the NCSA Junior Nationals and NCSA Age Group Championships.
"Being born and raised in Ohio, the opportunity to coach at The Ohio State University is both unexpected and thrilling," Wright said. "I can't overstate my gratitude and appreciation to Coach Dorenkott and the rest of the staff for placing their confidence in me. With determination and loyalty, I look forward to many years of Buckeye swimming and diving success."
Prior to NOVA, Wright was the CEO and head coach of the Northern Kentucky Clippers from 2015-19 and the Director of Competitive Swimming and Aquatics for the Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club from 2010-15. He had his first Division I coaching job when he served as an assistant at Georgetown from 2009-10.
Wright has served as the head coach of Team USA for the 2022 FINA Junior World Open Water Championship, the 2019 UANA Junior American Open Water Championship and the 2019 USA National Open Water Select Camps. He was also a coach for the 2018 USA National Team OW Altitude Camp and has served as a coach for the USA National Team and the USA Junior National Team.
Wright attended Asbury University, where he qualified for NAIA Nationals and set school records all four years of his career. He graduated in 2003 with a degree in psychology.
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