Head Coach Thad Schultz on Prep School Swimming, AAU, and the SPIRE Academy Way

On today’s episode of the SwimSwam Podcast, we’re joined by a coach who has consistently left his mark across every level of the sport: SPIRE Academy Head CoachThad Schultz. A standout swimmer at West Virginia back in the day, Thad transitioned from athlete to trusted mentor and coach with a résumé that reads like a tour through American swimming. Thad coached on the deck at Clemson, Ohio State, and Penn State, and has worked with over 20 Olympians, 18 NCAA All-Americans, and countless age group and sectional standouts. Whether it was building champions at SwimMAC, developing youth at Brunswick Y, or now shaping the next generation at SPIRE Academy, Coach Thad has seen—and built—it all. And he’s not just coaching for performance in the pool—he’s building stronger minds. With a master’s in counseling from Clemson, Thad brings a perspective many coaches miss. In this episode, we dive into how that training informs his philosophy on athlete development, leadership, and life after the pool.