The North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC) is an elite, multi-site swim competitive swim club based in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1968, the club has established itself as one of the most prestigious and iconic swimming programs in the United States and the World, consistently ranking as a Silver Medal Club by USA Swimming since 2017.[6] NBAC is renowned for its rigorous training philosophy and for developing numerous world-class athletes, including more than a dozen Olympians and Paralympians. The club's most famous alumnus is Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.[7]
Coppermine Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center, a former training facility for NBAC
The North Baltimore Aquatic Club was founded in 1968 by Murray Stephens and Tim Pierce.[8] The club began its operations at the pool of Loyola Blakefield (then Loyola High School). In the mid-1980s, under the leadership of coach Murray Stephens, NBAC purchased the Coppermine Meadowbrook Aquatic and Fitness Center, establishing a permanent home and a 50-meter outdoor pool for long-course training.[9] This move was pivotal for the club, as it allowed it to attract more talent and expand its programs. Early in its history, Bob Gavin represented NBAC at the 1968 Olympic Trials in Long Beach, California. In 1972, the club had its first female swimmers, Vicki English and Paula Crawford, compete at the Olympic Trials. In 1981, Theresa Andrews became NBAC's first national champion by winning the 100 backstroke at the U.S. Nationals. Andrews later qualified for the 1984 United States Olympic Team, where she won two gold medals in Los Angeles (backstroke, medley relay). In the same year, two other NBAC swimmers competed at the Olympics: Patrick Kennedy (USA, 200 butterfly) and Ricardo Aldabe (Spain, 200 backstroke).[10]
The Era of Michael Phelps and Bob Bowman at NBAC
In the mid-1980s, Tom Himes and Patricia Stephens joined NBAC as coaches. Around this time, NBAC swimmers began to appear more frequently at international events. At the 1986 Goodwill Games, Julia Gorman won silver in the 200 butterfly. After the Stephens family bought Meadowbrook Swim Club in 1987, the team prepared for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. At the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials, Anita Nall set two World Records in the 200 breaststroke and went on to win gold, silver, and bronze medals at the Olympics. Jill Johnson also competed for the USA in 1992. In the following years, NBAC continued to have swimmers compete nationally and internationally. The women’s team won several U.S. National Team Championships starting in 1994. Whitney Phelps won a National Championship and placed 9th at the World Championships. In 1995, Beth Botsford and Whitney Phelps made the U.S. National Team for the Pan Pacific Games, with Murray Stephens as an assistant coach. At the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Beth Botsford won two gold medals, and Whitney Metzler made the finals in the 400 individual medley. Casey Barrett, a former NBAC swimmer, represented Canada. That year, Murray Stephens was named Coach of the Year, and he is the first coach to win the award. Bob Bowman joined the staff. After 1996, Botsford and Nall continued to earn national and international honors. In 1999, NBAC hosted a FINA World Cup meet at the University of Maryland. During this era, NBAC became a dominant force in U.S. swimming, producing a steady stream of national champions and Olympians[11]. The arrival of a young Michael Phelps in the late 1990s, and his subsequent historic success, cemented NBAC's global reputation. All of this success would impact the club’s national ranking, as it was ranked the #1 club in the country by the USA Swimming Club Excellence Program from 2010 to 2011 and also ranked as a Gold Medal Club from the program's establishment in 2002 to 2017.[12][13]
NBAC sells the Meadowbrook Facility
In 2015, NBAC would sell the Meadowbrook facility to Merritt Properties; this decision would end the club’s tenure with the facility. Following the sale, NBAC maintained a lease agreement that allowed them to continue training at Meadowbrook for several years. Over time, the organization adapted to a multi-site operational model, expanding its training efforts across various locations. [14]
The Departure of Bob Bowman and Michael Phelps
The period following Michael Phelps's final Olympics in 2016 marked a significant transition for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. A major factor in this shift was the departure of famed coach Bob Bowman, who had been instrumental in Phelps's career and the club's elite program. In 2015, Bowman accepted the head coaching position at Arizona State University, and Phelps, along with other top-tier swimmers, relocated to train with him.[15] This exodus of elite talent would significantly impact the club's ability to score the high-level performance points due to its smaller size compared to nearby swim clubs such as the Nation's Capital Swim Club (NCAP) and others. All of this would cause NBAC to drop from Gold Medal status to Silver Medal status in the 2018 Club Excellence Program; the club has not been ranked a Gold Medal club since 2017.[16]
Ensuing the "New Era"
In the ensuing "new era," NBAC has focused on cultivating its deep pool of age-group talent under the long-term leadership of Head Coach and CEO Tom Himes, who has been with the club for over three decades.[17] While the club no longer has the concentration of post-graduate and Olympic-level swimmers it was famous for in the Bowman-Phelps years, it remains a nationally competitive program. The club is consistently recognized by USA Swimming as a top-tier, Silver Medal Club, including in the 2025-2026 rankings, when it was ranked as the #44-ranked club in the country. It has also maintained being the number one swim club in the State of Maryland and continues its legacy of developing top-ranked age-group swimmers and maintaining its dominance in regional and national championships.[18][19]
Coaching
NBAC's success is deeply intertwined with its history of elite coaching.
Murray Stephens: Co-founder and longtime head coach, Stephens was the architect of NBAC's "culture of commitment." His philosophy demanded intense dedication from swimmers and parents alike, creating a high-performance environment that became the club's hallmark. He coached Olympians Theresa Andrews and Anita Nall.[9]
Bob Bowman: Bob Bowman and Michael Phelps in 2009 Bowman joined NBAC in 1996 and served as the high-performance coach. His partnership with Michael Phelps is one of the most successful in sports history, leading to unprecedented Olympic achievements. Bowman's technical expertise and meticulous planning were instrumental in developing not only Phelps but also other Olympians like Allison Schmitt and Chase Kalisz. He left NBAC with Phelps for the University of Michigan in 2004 but later returned in 2008 before taking the head coaching position at Arizona State University in 2015.[20]
Tom Himes: The current Head Coach and CEO, Himes has been with NBAC for over three decades, serving in various coaching roles. He has been a key figure in maintaining the club's standards of excellence and continuing its tradition of developing elite swimmers.[2]
Facilities
NBAC operates out of several locations in the Baltimore metropolitan area, providing access to both 25-yard (short course) and 50-meter (long course) pools. The club's primary training sites are:
Loyola University Maryland: The Mangione Aquatic Center serves as a key training hub, offering a modern facility for many of the club's training groups.
Goucher College: The Goucher College pool is another primary site for NBAC practices.
Gilman School: The Gilman School's pool is utilized for various age-group programs.
Coppermine (Bel Air): This location in Harford County expands the club's reach to the northeast of Baltimore.
Historically, the club's home was the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, an outdoor 50-meter pool that was crucial for long-course training. The club also began at the Loyola Blakefield pool, which it still uses on occasion.
Notable alumni
Olympians
NBAC has developed 14 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes with over 50 medals.[21]
Whitney Metzler – Competed in the 1996 Games (400m individual medley).
Michael Phelps – Competed in five Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016). He is the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals: 23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze.
Katie Hoff – Competed in the 2004 and 2008 Games. Won three medals at the 2008 Beijing Games: silver (400m freestyle) and two bronze (400m individual medley, 4x200m freestyle relay).
Conor Dwyer – Competed in the 2012 and 2016 Games. Won two gold medals as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay in both Olympics.
Allison Schmitt – Competed in three Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016). Won a total of 8 medals: four gold, two silver, and two bronze.
Chase Kalisz – Competed in the 2016 and 2020 Games. Won a silver medal in 2016 (400m individual medley) and a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games (400m individual medley).
Paralympians
NBAC has also developed some of the most successful Paralympic swimmers in U.S. history.
Rebecca Meyers – Competed in three Paralympic Games (2012, 2016, 2020). She has won a total of six medals: three gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Jessica Long – One of the most decorated Paralympians of all time. She has competed in five Paralympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) and has won 29 medals, including 16 gold medals.[22]
References
↑ "Board of Directors". teamunify.com. North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
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