No one knew what moving to the Big East Conference would mean for Xavier’s athletic teams. Could the teams—especially some of the non-spotlight teams—compete at this higher level? Or would they be overwhelmed and become an anchor at the bottom of the standings?

The answer came in February from an unlikely source: the men’s swim team.

The team delivered the University its first Big East Championship—this from a team that never won a conference title. Ever.

Senior Chad Thompson earned six gold medals and was named the Big East Most Outstanding Performer, while fourth-year head coach Brent MacDonald was named Big East Coach of the Year after leading Xavier to the championship.