December 17, 2025 — The College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) announces the establishment of the College Swimming & Diving Advocacy Council, an initiative designed to strengthen and expand the impact of collegiate swimming and diving through advocacy, philanthropy and strategic leadership.
The council will serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity to the CSCAA, bringing together leaders from business, law, technology, media and academia to provide professional insight, connections and support for initiatives that advance the long-term sustainability of college swimming and diving.
“We are incredibly grateful to this initial task force of strategic leaders who bring unique expertise and a deep commitment to our sport,” said Samantha Barany, executive director of the CSCAA. “We are in a time that calls for collaboration, bold ideas and collective action to position swimming and diving for long-term success. Together, we can elevate and strengthen our sport like never before.”
CSCAA Advocacy Council Task Force Members
The initial task force will work closely with CSCAA leadership to establish the council’s full membership, structure and strategic priorities. Over the next year, the council will expand to approximately 20 engaged supporters dedicated to promoting the sustainability of collegiate swimming and diving programs through relationship-building, fundraising and thought leadership.
“Collegiate athletics are navigating significant challenges, and it’s critical that we bring together the best minds to build a bright and sustainable future — that is exactly what this council is designed to do,” Barany said. “The Advocacy Council will play a role in ensuring that our sport remains visible, valued and viable for generations to come. We look forward to building a strong coalition of leaders who believe in the power of swimming and diving on college campuses and the positive impact it can have across our sport’s entire ecosystem.”
CSCAA encourages its community to nominate individuals — former athletes, parents and advocates — who are eager to lend their voice and expertise to the CSCAA Advocacy Council.
Mike Balow is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served seven years on active duty as a surface warfare officer, including assignments with the U.S. Pacific Fleet, the First Marine Division and as an instructor at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy. He is a 20-year veteran of the Detroit commercial real estate industry and is currently a vice president at CBRE Inc. He is the father of a former swimmer on the Michigan State University women’s team and was elected to an eight-year term on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees in 2024. In addition to his bachelor’s degree from the USNA, Balow holds an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Brian W. Casey has been president of Colgate University since July 2016. Before joining Colgate, he served as president of DePauw University and held leadership roles at Harvard University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a captain of the swim team, a law degree from Stanford Law School and a doctorate from Harvard University.
Carter Cast is a faculty member and professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He also serves as an operating partner at Pritzker Private Capital and is a former senior executive recognized for driving innovation in consumer and digital industries. Cast was the founding chief marketing officer at Blue Nile and later became CEO of Walmart.com, where he played a key role in the company’s early e-commerce growth.
CJ Fiala, a Virginia Tech alumnus, serves as vice president of enterprise – life sciences and pharma at Salesforce, where he provides strategic leadership to global Fortune 500 organizations. He is known for building trusted partnerships and advancing initiatives that drive long-term organizational impact. He previously served as vice chair of the USA Swimming Board of Directors Nominating Committee and remains engaged in supporting the sport’s development.
Ed Foulke is an NC State graduate who earned his law degree from Loyola and a master’s degree from Georgetown. He served as assistant secretary of labor and led OSHA from 2006–08 under President George W. Bush. He is now a partner at Fisher & Phillips in Atlanta.
Tom Johnson is a Cal Poly alumnus and project manager who brings a deep personal connection to collegiate swimming and diving. Beyond his professional career, his advocacy on behalf of the Cal Poly swim team has provided direct experience mobilizing stakeholders, aligning communities around strategic initiatives and addressing the complex challenges collegiate swimming and diving programs face when at risk of elimination.
Ronald Kaminski is senior vice president at Quanta Services Inc. and founder of Hydrosite LLC, a venture philanthropy fund supporting the future of swimming. He founded HBK Engineering LLC, later acquired by Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR). He is a USA Swimming trustee and serves on the boards of Chicago Commons and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. Kaminski swam for the University of Iowa, where he earned a degree in civil engineering. He later played a leading role in the successful effort to reinstate the University of Iowa women’s swimming program after its discontinuation.
Nick Lake is a strategy and operations leader at Google, where he supports global business and product initiatives. He previously worked at Bain & Company and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a magna cum laude degree from Emory University. A former collegiate swimmer at Emory, he brings both professional expertise and a lifelong connection to the sport.
Margaret Mason is a Michigan State University graduate and former captain of the women’s swim team. After serving 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, she is a Tennessee-based entrepreneur and business owner. With two children swimming collegiately at Arizona State University and Loyola University Maryland, she brings both professional acumen and personal passion for the sport.
Ryan Spoon, a Duke University alumnus, is president of Yahoo Sports Media Group and former president of Yahoo Sports, where he led growth and innovation across digital sports media. A former collegiate swimmer at Duke, he brings deep media industry expertise and a strong understanding of the value of athletics in higher education to the task force.
About The CSCAA
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) — the first collegiate coaches association — is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and leading the advancement of the sport at the collegiate level. With a mission to protect, preserve and expand college swimming and diving opportunities, the CSCAA provides resources, educational opportunities and leadership development to its members, fostering a thriving and competitive collegiate swimming and diving community.
