"I am honored and tremendously excited to lead the most storied program in collegiate swimming and diving history,

TX is the most storied program? I thought that Cal finishing at least second for the last 14 years might take that title

Yes, Texas has 15 titles since the 80s and were first or second in most of the 14 years Cal was in the top two. Most of Cal's success has been recent, and comparable to Texas in the same period (both have six titles since 2010); Nort had a fairly short run at the very top (though a good number of fourth place finishes). It would take another decade or two for Durden to catch up, and Texas is going to be dangerous again very soon with Bowman at the helm. However, the Bears may go into next year as favorites, especially if the fifth years return and Bowman leaving effectively strips ASU of some talent without bolstering Texas that much

Cal has had "success" for nearly 50 years, not just the past 15 or so.

..Cal definitely would be one of the favorites if Marchand and others go pro.

And yet most of it still came in the past 15 years. 3/4 of the titles and top two finishes. This isn't remotely a conversation before durden took over; it was a good top 10 program in the same vein as Florida, but still a tier below Auburn, Stanford, Michigan, etc. Now we're heading towards a case for number two and that is all since 2010.

Remains to be seen how much of a favorite they are next year. Depends on if the fifth years return. Also hypothetically if a bunch of ASU guys transfer to Texas they could make a superteam (though it's seeming unlikely); we just don't know enough yet.