Swimming & Diving
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- rsalhus@ia.ua.edu
- Phone:
- 205-348-3600
- Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Education: University of Iowa, 2011
- Spouse: Mary
- Children: Liam and Oliver
- 2023-present: Alabama, Assistant Coach
- 2022-23: Louisiana State, Assistant Coach
- 2019-22: Army Westpoint, Assistant Coach
- 2016-19: Iowa, Assistant Coach
- 2012-16: Iowa Flyers Swim Club, Assistant Coach
- 2007-11: Iowa
Richard Salhus joined the Alabama coaching staff as an assistant swimming coach in September of 2023.
"I am excited for Rich, his wife Mary and his two sons, Liam and Oliver, to be a part of the Crimson Tide," Margo Geer said. "Rich brings tremendous insight from his years of experience coaching at the collegiate and club levels, and great enthusiasm for developing student-athletes in all facets of life. Our team will benefit from Rich and all he brings both as a coach and as a person."
"I want to express my gratitude to head coach Margo Geer for the incredible opportunity to be a part of the Crimson Tide family," Salhus said. "It is an honor to join such a remarkable team while representing a university that provides all the necessary resources to pursue championships. I am excited to share the pool deck with an outstanding staff and build great relationships with our student-athletes to help and support them in seeking excellence. Roll Tide!"
LSU (2022-23)
- Assist coach for the Tigers for one season
- Helped coach the women’s team to its highest finish in 30 years at the NCAA Championships, placing 13th-overall
- The men’s team tallied six All-American honors at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships as the team placed 16th at the meet
Army West Point (2019-22)
- Served as an assistant coach for three seasons
- Coached the middle distance and distance swimmer
- Directly coached Patriot League Champion and school record holder in the mile
- The Black Knights recorded 17 Patriot League champions, set 12 school records and recorded five All-Conference honors
Iowa (2016-19)
- Served as an assistant coach for the team and the men’s international recruiting coordinator
- Oversaw training for sprint group in addition to butterfly, backstroke and middle distance
- Had nine athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships in addition to two relay teams posting NCAA “A” standard times
- Over his three years, the team broke 30 school records and had record over 120 changes to the Hawkeyes’ all-time top-10 list
- Handled meet entries, roster management, scheduling and programming practices
Iowa Flyers Swim Club (2012-16)
- Served as an assistant coach with the Iowa Flyers for four seasons, before being named head coach in March of 2016
- Coached three athletes to the 2016 Olympic Trials, including the fourth-place place finisher in the 200 butterfly
- Had an athlete named to 2016 USA Junior Pan Pacific Championship Team
Other Coaching Experience
- National Junior Team Coach in 2016
- Coached at the 2014 National Select Camp
- 2015 Central Zone Select Camp assistant coach
- Coached multiple winter and summer Junior National medalists.
Professional Career
- Salhus was a South African Junior National qualifier, winning numerous medals, including the gold in the 50 free and 50 fly.
- Was also a member of the South African Junior Squad and qualified for multiple South African Senior Nationals and Olympic Trials
- Finalist in the 200 free and 50 fly and a gold medalist in the 400-free and 800-free relays
- Competed for Jon Rudd under Plymouth Leander in the United Kingdom where he held various records in Devon County
- Went on to win silver in the 17/18-year-old 50 free and bronze in the 800-free relay at the British Youth Championships and he also competed in the Great Britain Open Championships, where he was a finalist in the men's 50 fly and semifinalist in men's 50 free
Personal Information
- From Johannesburg, South Africa, native
- Four-year Iowa letterwinner, competing from 2007-11
- He earned Big Ten Swimmer of the Week honors in 2008
- ASCA Level 4 certified, graduated from the University of Iowa in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in health science with a minor health and sports studies
- Married to Mary Salhus
- Has two sons, Liam and Oliver
