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Report: Michael Phelps to become assistant coach at ASU following retirement

Looks like the world's most recognizable swimmer liked Tempe enough to stay for a while.

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Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Michael Phelps isn't moving out of Arizona anytime soon.

According to Jeff Metcalfe of the Arizona Republic, Phelps will become a volunteer assistant swim coach for the Arizona State Sun Devils under coach Bob Bowman following the 2016 Rio Olympics, which will mark the end of Phelps' storied swimming career.

Phelps has been living in Tempe since May and has since trained at ASU's Mona Plummer Swimming Complex in preparation for next year's Olympics under Bowman's supervision.

In Metcalfe's feature on Phelps and fellow Olympic swimmer Allison Schmitt settling in Arizona, Phelps spoke highly of his long bond with Bowman, who is in his first year coaching at ASU and will coach the U.S. men's swim team in Rio. According to Metcalfe, Bowman first pitched the idea of Phelps serving as an assistant at ASU in April at the Arena Grand Prix in Mesa.

"I said, 'If you go, I'll go,' " Phelps told Bowman with one request that trainer Keenan Robinson also make the move from North Baltimore Aquatics. "I didn't want to swim for anybody else to finish my career, and I don't want to work with another trainer. Without the help of those two, I wouldn't be able to be where I am today."

Phelps holds 22 medals in three Olympic Games and holds the world record in Olympic gold medals with 18.

Some of ASU's current swimmers seemed thrilled by the report: