The rich get richer as the University of Texas men have landed yet another elite swimmer to their roster as Chris Guiliano announces his transfer to the Longhorns from Notre Dame.
Guiliano, 21, led the Fighting Irish to a record-breaking season in 2023-24 as a junior, but in the offseason, it was the men’s swimming program was suspended for one academic year after an independent law firm found that most team members engaged in gambling throughout the season.
Prior to the suspension, Guiliano had a breakthrough summer, qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team in the men’s 50, 100 and 200 free, becoming the first American male since Matt Biondi in 1988 to do so in all three.
Guiliano went on to have a successful Olympic debut, winning gold in the men’s 4×100 free relay, silver in the men’s 4×200 free relay (prelims) and making an individual final in the 100 free, placing 8th. He was also 17th in the 50 free and 19th in the 200 free.
In early September, Guiliano entered the NCAA transfer portal, remaining adamant that he would pursue graduating at Notre Dame if it was possible.
In his announcing his transfer to Texas on Wednesday, he reiterated that sentiment, saying there’s a path for him to finish his degree at UND.
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Guiliano has one season of NCAA eligibility remaining. Although he didn’t specifically say he’ll be joining the Longhorns this season, that’s the expectation given Notre Dame’s suspension will expire come 2025-26.
He is scheduled to represent the United States at the 2024 Short Course World Championships next month in Budapest.
The addition of Guiliano gives the Texas men and ace in the free relays (not to mention individually), as he’s coming off a standout NCAA campaign that included him sweeping the men’s 50, 100 and 200 free at the ACC Championships.
Guiliano was also 3rd in the 200 free, 4th in the 50 free and 5th in the 100 free at NCAAs last season, his first time cracking an NCAA ‘A’ final in his career after he was 9th in the 200 free and 10th in the 100 free as a sophomore.
Guiliano’s Lifetime Bests (SCY)
- 50 free – 18.43
- 100 free – 40.62
- 200 free – 1:30.36
If Guiliano does join Texas for the second semester in January, he’ll do so alongside Polish backstroker Ksawery Masiuk, who announced he would be heading to Austin in 2025 to begin his collegiate career in September.
In the seven months since Bob Bowman was hired as the Director of Swimming and head men’s coach at Texas, the Longhorns have seen a massive influx of talent on their roster, with the likes of Hubert Kos, Rex Maurer, Aaron Shackell and Ben Sampson transferring over, David Johnston returning from a redshirt season, and the addition of a strong freshman class led by Cooper Lucas and Kyle Peck.
Now with Guiliano and Masiuk joining the mix, Texas promises to make a significant jump up the standings after they finished 7th at the 2024 NCAA Championships, their lowest finish since 2005.
Outside of the NCAA team’s performance, Texas now boasts arguably the best training group in the nation, with pros Carson Foster, Shaine Casas, Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland also training in Austin, not to mention the best male swimmer in the world, Leon Marchand, expected to arrive in early 2025.
Perhaps this is the final piece of the puzzle for the Fall/2024 season – knowing that Guiiano will be @ Texas.
Notre Dame has RUINED it’s men’s swimming team for at least the next few cycles with their puritanical overkill for a gambling practice that is clearly widespread.
So, HE BAILED!
Good for him, Good for Texas, and Good for Bowman!
Does anyone know of who else he was talking to? Curious what other teams were in the mix
Cal
Is he able to transfer because they found that he wasn’t involved in the whole gambling thing? Would the people who were involved be able to transfer? Were people suspended individually? I may have missed/forgotten some parts in other articles but i am genuinely curious 👀
We don’t really know (he doesn’t want to do interviews until after SC Worlds), but I presume that it means he’s going to graduate. If you’re a grad transfer there’s a lot more flexibility in transferring.
The school isn’t commenting, but from what we understand from people close to the program, certain folks are going to get hammered (1-2 years suspension as individuals on top of the team suspension), and others are going to be fine. It’s not clear to me if the distinction is “participated vs not participated” or “ring leader vs passive participant”.
Wait, why are they suspending for more than one year rather than just kicking them off the team? If someone does something bad enough to warrant a two year suspension then I’m pretty sure you don’t want them around the team, period.
Are their parents boosters or something?
The suspension is from the NCAA and independent of their status with Notre Dame. The suspension would then follow them to other schools.
Thanks!
This filled the hole of a competitive anchor in the medleys. 4 Medley gonna play out to be McDonald, Benzing, Frankel, Miroslaw v.s. Modglin/ Masiuk, Germ, Kos, Chris v.s. Marshall, Smith, Liendo, Chaney?
Cal too, Okadome instead of Bell on the breast leg. For 4 medley, I bet Texas goes Hobson, can only use Chris for 4 relays, so I bet they skip 4 medley as Hobson’s been 40.8/40.9 before.
Very good points.
Forgot that Okadome being 52.0 in early October is a factor. If there was a relay they would leave Chris off of it would be this one. Lasco/ Okadome/ Jensen?/ Alexy is filthy if those middle two legs can get right.
Should be Rose on fly
Rose gets eaten alive in short course; you’d hope they have a better option emerge by the spring (or he figures it out).
Think Cal will go Seeliger on Free to save Alexy for the 800 FR-R
Florida might have the edge, Liendo is going to have an incredible split of fly.
I would agree that of all the legs, Liendo on Fly could be around 1 second faster than everyone else. I don’t really see any other team having a huge advantage on another leg. If all teams are on at NCAAs, I’d bet on UF.
Congratulations to Chris and Texas.
Was hoping for a different result but that seems to be the way the cookie crumbles this week. 🤷🏼♀️🙄
How was Giuliano able to enter the transfer portal in September? Swimming’s transfer portal closed earlier in the Spring.
There are certain loopholes, like if you graduate.
Why is Jay Litherland still swimming?
Because he loves it?
Why not?
Can someone put together a side-by-side projected relay comparison chart for Texas, Cal, Florida, and Indiana? With so much movement it’s hard to project how it’s gonna play out, but I really think we’re gonna get a great championship meet.
On it
Thanks, you’re the best!
This is a guess but it’s a starting point. It still looks like it’s going to be very close between Indiana and Texas.
Indiana
O McDonald 3/0
Frankel 2/0
Sarkany 2/1
Matheny 2/0
Miroslaw 1/2
Yep 1/1
King 1/1
Benzing 1/1
Knedla 1/1
Brooks 0/2
Westering 0/1
Barr 0/1
Lee 0/1
C McDonald 0/1
Divers 7/1
Total: 21/14
Texas
Kos 3/0
Johnston 3/0
Guiliano 3/0
Modglin 2/1
Hobson 2/1
Maurer 2/?
Germonprez 2/1
Masiuk 1/1 or probably better
Carrozza 1/1
Lucas 1/2
Peck 0/2
Schlotz 0/1
Walker 0/1
Branon… Read more »
Thanks, Art. This is a good starting point. There are a lot of new international point scorers and returning olympic red-shirts that will change these numbers; maybe significantly. All 3 teams also have young talent that have the potential for big drops. It will be exciting!
This Guiliano announcement hurts this IU fan’s hopes a bit. Long term, it was probably the best move for him though.
And this isn’t counting Aaron Shackell scoring anything for Texas. Anyone know what his deal is this year. I think he swam a dual meet with meh times.
Probably took well-deserved time off after the Olympics and getting back into shape I would guess. Potentially an injury / illness but that’s just speculation.
Correct. Shackell could be as good as a 2 event finalist or not score in anything. He will be a big wildcard. Cotter is a wild card too. There are so many ‘what if’s at this point, we have no clue what will happen at NCAAs. All I’m pretty confident of if it looks to be a pretty close meet and may depend on who’s ‘on’ at NCAAs.
Will be interesting to see if Guiliano swims all 5 relays or cuts one of them for the 3 individuals
3 individuals gets Texas more points. It’s rare where it makes sense for someone to go all 5 relays.