10 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 Michigan swimming coaches differ in style while maintaining 'M' tradition By Jacob R. Wheeler Daily Sports Writer At 61, Michigan men's swimming coach lon Urbanchek is old enough to be a grandfather to many of his swimmers. Just out of college, assistant coach Eric Namesnik has hardly lost his youthful step. To say Namesnik is still wet behind the ears in terms of coaching experience would be correct, literally. The first-year assistant graduated from Michigan just five years ago, but he continued to swim with the team under Urbanchek's tutelage for the next three years while training for the 1996 Olympics. After volunteering as an assistant last year, Namesnik was hired full-time. The two-time Olympic silver medalist went from pupil to teacher in just a couple of years. Now, instead of swimming alongside fellow Olympians Tom Malchow, Derya Buyukuncu and Ryan Papa, Namesnik stands next to Urbanchek. watching over them. "It's probably a little difficult for them," Namesnik said. "Before, I was swimming with them and in the locker room with them. But now, I'm up on deck coaching them, trying to make them better athletes.4 "I try not to treat them different than when I was swimming with them. I think they've been open to see my position differently than it was before. Hopefully they accept what I have to offer." If this relationship poses a problem, Urbanchek doesn't see it as a long term situation. "It's especially hard for Erik because he swam with some of these guys," Urbanchek said. "There's some overlap there. Once all these peo- ple who he trained with are gone, the young guys coming in will look at him differently -- perhaps look up to him. "I don't think the guys he swam with respect him a great deal for the amount of dedication he had when he trained." Namesnik certainly has a lot of experience to offer. He's used to the Michigan swimming pro- gram because he's been a part of it for nine years - and that means he's experienced plenty of winning. Namesnik swam on Michigan's 1989, '90, '91 and '93 Big Ten championship teams. He redshirted his junior year to train for the Olympic trials. Big Ten championships are as important to Michigan swimming as water is to a pool. The Wolverines have won 11 of the past 12 -- the one exception coming in 1996, when Urbanchek opted to have his athletes instead concentrate on the Olympics. Despite that break in the streak, performances by Michigan swimmers at the Atlanta Games made up for the absence of a Big Ten title. Current Wolverine Malchow and former swim- mers Tom Dolan, Gustavo Borges and Namesnik all won medals. Dolan took home the gold in the 400 individual medley, and Namesnik, Malchow and Borges each won a silver in separate events. Minnesota won the championship in 1996- after taking a back seat to Michigan almost every year before that. Once again, the Golden Gophers and Wolverines should be the top two teams this weekend at the Big Ten Championships. So there's an awful lot of pressure on Michigan to defend its crown and win its 30th title. But that's where the veteran coach and his young assistant differ. Urbanchek has preferred the low-pressure approach during his 15 years at Michigan. He's known for his humor at practice and during meets, not his intensity. "Jon likes to create a laid-back, fun environ- ment because sports are supposed to be fun." Namesnik said. "When you feel like there's always pressure on you, that generally doesn't create the best results. "There's a lot of initial pressure in this program - winning the Big Ten championships and win- ning NCAA championships. Jon's style is relaxed because that's what has gotten him results for years." Namesnik is a little different. He's an intense motivator who openly expects more from his swimmers. Age might account for the difference between the two coaches. But according to Urbanchek, Namesnik hasn't changed much since his swimming days. "Eric's probably the most dedicated athlete I've ever worked with," the veteran coach said. "He was not easy to coach, though. He was very stub- born. "But being stubborn is sometimes good, because it gives you the will to stick with some- thing. I think some real good athletes are stubborn - that's what makes them what they are. When Michael Jordan makes the jump shot, he does it because he's stubborn." If Namesnik is the equivalent of an intense trainer who expects perfection, then Urbanchek is the wise old man who lets his team motivate itself. He jumps in every once in a while and sput- ters out an anecdote. "It would be pretty boring if every coach were the same," Urbanchek said. "The biggest differ- ence is that Eric has a hard time dealing with peo- ple who are not as dedicated as him. But not everyone can be as dedicated as him. "He's an excellent motivator, lie motivates by the way lie designs practice. But he's pretty dry. I don't think he's as witty as I am. Some coaches are able to come back and crack a joke at the right time with the right person. You learn that by coaching for a long time though" SARA sTIL--AN 04 After years of success holding the reins of the Michigan men's swimming program, Jon Urbanchek has one of his finest products working with him. Eric Namesnik is in his first season as an asisstant. Jon Urbanchek Men's swimming coach 1 Viewed as a genius at age 61 * In his 16tn year as men's swimming coach ® Has won 11 of the past 12 Big Ten titles M Coac hed in four Olympic Games (1984, 8 '92, '96) * Eight of his swi1mmers have won Olympic medals Eric Namesnik Men's swimming assistant coach M Viewed as an intense motivator at age 27 ® In his first full year as an assistant coach after serving the same capacity for half of last season r Won silver medals in the '92 and '96 Olympics * U.S. National Team Representative on U.S. Swimming Board of Directors 0 Sweet Lou Vs. Pistol Pete is the matchup to watch at Penn State Louis BullockG remains one of. Michigan's cornerstones as postseason play approaches. He ;x will square off: tonight against Penn State guard Pete Lisicky. SARA STILLMAN/Daiy SHOOTERS Continued from Page 9 given touch and accuracy a new mean- ing, have a great deal of respect for each other. In fact, they know each other well. They were even teammates at one point. playing together on the US. 22-and- under collegiate squad in 1994. "Bullock is one of the most consistent players in the Big Ten," Lisickv said. "l e comes to play eveiy game and lie is prob- ably one of the best shooters in the lBia Ten, if not the country. He's a real.talent- ed kid and a real competitor." Bullock said that Lisickv is so lethal because extra help from his teammates leads to uncontested shots. ''The key is to try not to let him have an open look," Bullock said. "IHIis extra weapon is that it is tough to guard him because his teammates set good screens." Bullock had many open looks in Michigan's thrashing of Indiana last Sunday. But it could be tougher for him in State College. The Wolverines must contend with a team that has won four of its past five games, including a 74-63 upset over then-No. 5 Purdue in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions' only home loss this season was to Illinois. They are 11-1 at the Bryce Jordan Center this season. 4o that makes things a little different, even following the Indiana massacre. "They are coming to our place, our home court," Lisicky said. "We can't worry about what they just did on nation- al TV or who they beat in the past. We've got to do what we can do and control what we can control." Big Ten defenders have had a hard time controlling Lisicky and Bullock. Both of the players' numbers are impres- sive. Both shooting guards are leading their respective teams in scoring. Bullock averages 16.3 points (17.9 in Big Ten games) and Lisicky has chipped in 15.5 points per game (15.0 in the conference). Each player is his school's record hold- er in career 3-point field goals made. Bullock has 249 triples while .isicky. 306 3-pointers place him in 22nd place on the all-time NCAA list. -esitation rarely enters the equation when these two are concerned. Bullock nailed a 3-pointer in East Lansing last week from practically next to his coach, Brian Ellerbe, who was near half-court. And in Penn State's game against Purdue, Lisicky dropped in a 3-pointer from near the sidelines - where the Penn State fans were closer to blocking the shot than were the Boilermakers. Bullock is shooting at a 46.5-percent clip from long range, having converted 72 of 155 3-point attempts -- which places him third among conference scor- ers in overall games. He is second in 3- point field goal percentage during con- ference games. Lisicky is sixth among Big Ten scor- ers, after making 34 3-pointers in 14 con- ference games. Overall, he is 60 of 173 from 3-poii range. But who would win a game of H-O-R- S-E? "His range is a little bit longer than mine,' Bullock said. "I mostly don't take the long shots in game situations, but I mean, he feels comfortable from all over at any time." 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