McNulty, who coached Jackson to a bronze medal in the 400 metres freestyle behind Rebecca Adlington in Beijing, will head up one of a new nationwide network of five ITCs designed to provide a world-class daily training environment for swimmer development and to build on the success of Beijing as the sport looks towards being successful London in 2012.

 

The former Durham Aquatics coach, who has spent the past six months at Loughborough University, is due to begin his new role in October.

 

McNulty said: "I'm very excited about this British Swimming opportunity to work as head coach of the Bath ITC.

 

"This ITC will provide all of the daily training requirements for high performance athletes in a world-class environment.

 

"It will help to build on the success of the Beijing Olympics by looking forward to 2012 and beyond.

 

"I'm looking forward to working with everyone at Team Bath.

 

"By working together with Team Bath we will have a system in place that underpins the ITC and offers opportunities for all."

 

McNulty will be supported in his role by Graeme Antwhistle, the former Borough of Stockton coach.

 

British Swimming national performance director Michael Scott has made the implementation of ITCs a priority since his arrival last year and he views it as a major component of his strategic plan for the sport from 2008 through to London 2012 and beyond.

 

He said: "Creating a world-class daily training environment is an essential part of our overall strategy towards realising our long-term performance goals.

 

"This will enable us to further challenge for more future Olympic success.

 

"These centres will provide a one stop shop service point for swimmers and coaches - the aim is to provide everything they need in their development from the right amount of 50 metre pool time to sports science support.

 

"Dave joins the team as head coach after a very successful 12-month period including coaching Jo Jackson to a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

"Dave has a bright future ahead of him as a coach and has worked extensively with a number of British teams in recent years. 

 

"He will be a great asset to Team Bath and to British Swimming over the next four years in the run-up to the London Olympic Games."

 

British Swimming's new programme head coach Dennis Pursley backs Scott ins believing the ITCs will provide the nation's swimmers with a network of training and support to rival the very best in the world.

 

He said: "We are extremely excited about the ITC programme as it will give our British swimmers a significant advantage over most of their competitors.

 

"There are very few training opportunities in the world of swimming that offer world class coaching, highly qualified support staff and ideal training conditions with an exclusive focus on preparation for peak performance in major international competition."

 

Pursley also believes the centres will compliment a world class programme that has clear objectives and will therefore maximise performance outcomes in the international arena.

 

He said: "Other opportunities may offer world class coaching and ideal training conditions, but they are typically encumbered by conflicting agendas and objectives.

 

"In the USA collegiate system, for example, during eight months of the year the training programme is focused on preparation for peak performance in the sprint dominated short course yards championships.

 

"This requires a very different training approach than does preparation for long course metres.

 

"This is why most collegiate swimmers fail to qualify for the USA national team until after they graduate and shift their training focus.

 

"Nowhere in the world will British swimmers find uncompromised training opportunities more conducive to success in major international competition than in the ITC programme right here in Great Britain."

 

British Swimming will operate ITCs at key 50m pool and training facilities at the University of Bath, Stirling, Stockport, Wales National Pool in Swansea and Loughborough University.

 

It is the second major boost this week for the University of Bath after Brian Ashton, who guided England to the final of the Rugby World Cup in France last year, joined them as director of coaching.

 

Ged Roddy, the director of Sport at the University, is excited by the prospect of hosting one of the ITCs.

 

He said: "We're delighted to welcome this initiative to Bath.

 

"It is a city born out of water and swimming has always been an integral part of our programme at the University of Bath.

 

"We're delighted that British Swimming has chosen Bath as one of its ITC facilities in the run-up to London 2012.

 

"British Swimming has demonstrated under the leadership of its new national performance director that the sport is moving incredibly dynamically and the results in Beijing highlight that.

 

"We're looking forward to supporting them and adding value to what they're doing here."

 

The network of five ITCs, combined with improved support to club programmes, is the focus of a strategy to build a system in Britain that will lead to long-term sustainable success for the sport in the international arena.

 

Scott's plan is to have centres that will improve both the numbers and quality of world-class athletes and coaches in Britain by providing a quality training environment on a daily basis.

 

They will also provide a pathway of opportunities for athlete and coach progression, he believes.