Arizona State men's and women's swimmers will redshirt rather than compete during the 2020-21 school year, a creative idea by Hall of Fame coach Bob Bowman to deal with uncertainties created by the coronavirus pandemic.
Both teams will resume competition in 2021-22 while training in the interim without losing a year of eligibility. The 2020 NCAA Swimming Championships were cancelled due to COVID-19 but, unlike in spring sports, those athletes were not granted an extra year of eligibility.
Bowman, ASU's swim coach since 2015, suggested the idea after ASU Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson challenged his staff to find ways to emerge stronger once the pandemic is under control, presumably with a vaccine.