TEMPE, Ariz. -- The first time Bob Bowman addressed the Sun Devils swim team, he encountered a pair of reactions he hadn't foreseen: shock and awe.
"Once I got them to stop being afraid of me it was a lot easier," Bowman, said laughing.
When it comes to street cred, it's hard to imagine a college coach carrying more than Bowman. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (2007, 2008) while at Michigan. He led the Wolverines to top-eight national finishes all four years he was there, and he coached swimming icon Michael Phelps, who won 18 gold medals, two silvers and two bronze medals to become the most decorated athlete in Olympic history.