Unlike Texas Basketball, Football, Track,And Baseball There Are Very Few Books That Discuss Longhorn swimming.  I Hope With Time This Site Can Add Some Historical Insight And Tell The Full And Compelling Story Of The Texas swimming Tradition. 

Please visit WETS to learn more about Longhorn swimming. The link is denoted in blue font below.

http://www.wetswim.org/about-us/founders-page/

WETS (Working Exes for Texas Swimming)  was organized in 1968 when a group of former Longhorn swimmers, divers, and coaches, headed by Tex Robertson, met to promote University of Texas aquatic excellence. The initial goals of WETS were to honor the past accomplishments of UT swimmers and divers; promote the present and future success of Texas Swimming and Diving, and to provide a common forum for all former Texas swimmers, divers, coaches, and fans to gather and stay connected. 

A condensed bullet point history of Texas Longhorn Swimming follows. Please go to the “credit” section of this website to view books you can purchase from many fine book stores about Texas Longhorn Sports, or please visit the official University of Texas Longhorn site Texassports.com for more detailed information.  

The Texas Longhorn men’s swimming teams have won 14 National Champions, and the Women’s have won 9.  No other Longhorn sport comes close to the success of the Longhorn swimming.

1926 swimming becomes a “minor” sport for the Longhorns but it was the beginning of an excellent adventure.

1927 – Coach Alphonse Ragland

Swimming was primarily around campus clubs that competed against each other.

Competitive swimming was held at Deep Eddy.  Alphonse Ragland a former star swimmer for Texas was the coach

1928 – Coach C.J. Alderson

Coach Alderson was the freshman coach for football and track, and a football scout for the varsity. His swim team held all but one record in the SWC.  In 1932, 1933, and 1934 , Texas scored more points then all the other teams combined.

1931 -Swimmer/Coach C.J. Shorty Alderson record 6-2

In 1931 swimming is recognized as a SWC sport.

Texas men’s swimming is recognized as a varsity sport

Gregory Gym pool is the best facility in the SWC.

First SWC Championship

Top of the chart “Lady of Spain”

1932-Coach C.J. Shorty Alderson SWC Champs

The first conference meet was in the Gregory Gymnasium pool. The team dominates the conference

April 1, 1932 Longhorns win  the first official title in the SWC.

Nola Simmons is captain .  The team qualified every man and won most of the events in both 1932 and 1933. 

1933- Coach C.J. Shorty Alderson Pending more information

Swimmers had to try out to make the team. Alderson focus was on form, , breathing and endurance. 8 SWC records were set by Texas.

 Athletic Council questions whether swimming should be considered a legitimate sport worthy of investing dollars in for the future. Tex Robertson would answer this question by offering to coach the Longhorns for free, and the rest of the story is now part of Longhorn sports history.

1934- Coach Nall is named both head coach and swimmer – SWC Champs