Head Coach Brian Hoffer Head Coach Brian Hoffer is in his ninth season at the University of Missouri and has developed the program into one that now demands respect within the conference as well as nationally. The 1998-99 Mizzou Tigers had successful seasons as the women defeated four nationally recognized programs and the men beat two top-25 teams in dual meet action. Not only did the swimmers preform well in the pool, but also out of the pool as 24 Tigers earned Academic All-Big 12 honors. The 1999 Missouri Academic Coach-of-the-Year has assembled yet another group of outstanding athletes ready to take the conference by storm.
Hoffer came to Missouri from Arizona State University in 1992 and has helped the Tiger program find its place back on the swimming map after disappearing during the 1980's. In the last three years, he has seen his programs ranked among the top 35 teams in the country and looks to break into the top 25 at the turn of the century. Between the men's and women's teams, Hoffer has seen his swimmers break 86 school records in the last seven seasons.
In dual meet action, the women boast a 7-year winning record of 45-34. Hoffer is not afraid to challenge his swimmers putting together a tough schedule again for the second straight year. The teams have not disappointed either. Even if they have not won every meet, they have challenged their competition to the very end.
Last season was the most successful season in school history for the women. The Tigers racked up an 8-3 record and won their second-consecutive invitational defeating host Indiana by just 5.5 points at the Indiana Invitational. In all, the Mizzou women have broken 51 school records, including 13 last season, all under Hoffer.
On the men's side, Hoffer's teams have a 22-20 record during the last four seasons. The men are sporting a youthful squad that went 6-4 a year ago, including a 150-148 upset of rival Kansas as well as impressive wins over Cincinnati, Iowa and Indiana (twice). During the 1998-99 season, the men chalked up five NCAA provisional qualifying standards, including three in relays. The men continued to improve at the Big 12 Conference Championships as they scored over 300 points for the second consecutive year.
Brian Hoffer's teams have also received high praise for their academic achievements. Since 1997, 65 swimmers and divers have been named to the academic All-Big 12 team. The women's team has been ranked in the top-20 in the country academically by the College Swimming Coaches of America for the last three seasons. For the academic support he provides to his Tigers, Hoffer was named as Missouri's Academic Coach-of-the-Year.
Before coming to Mizzou, Hoffer was the assistant coach with Arizona State for seven years and was also their primary recruiter for the swim teams. During that time, the Sun Devil women placed in the top-10 at the NCAA Championships four times, while the men finished ninth in 1991.
Hoffer earned his bachelor of science degree in psychology from Arizona State in 1986 and studied education on the graduate level as well. Born May 18, 1963 in Phoenix, Ariz, Hoffer currently resides in Columbia.
-Text and photo taken from the 2000-2001 Media Guide