MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Brent MacDonald has been named the sixth head coach of the West Virginia University men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced.


“Coach MacDonald has built a consistent and winning program in the pool and in the classroom at Xavier in two different conferences over the past 16 years,” Baker said. “We have an excellent aquatics center and support system here at West Virginia University for him to use in building his swim program. He demonstrated during the interview process a high commitment to developing elite student-athletes who excel academically and athletically. experience and leadership qualities will greatly benefit our swimming and diving program and our community. I’m excited to have Brent and his family as climbers.


MacDonald has served as the head coach of the Xavier men’s and women’s swimming programs since 2009, after serving as interim head coach during the 2008-09 season and as an assistant coach from 2006-08.


“I am honored and excited to be the next head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at WVU,” MacDonald said. “I want to thank the director of athletics, Wren Baker, and the senior associate athletic director Brittney O’Dell for trusting me to lead the climbers into the pool. The world-class facilities and elite student-athlete experience make this a great opportunity. My family and I can’t wait to get to Morgantown to start enjoying the community we’ve heard so many great things about. I can’t wait to get to work!”


During his tenure at Xavier, the men’s swimming team won six Big East championships, including four championships in six years. The Musketeers won the conference title in the program’s first season in the Big East, and MacDonald was the 2014 Big East Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year.


MacDonald was also the Big East Coach of the Year for the 2014–15, 2019–20 and 2022–23 seasons. He helped develop four Big East Outstanding Swimmer of the Year winners at Xavier.


The women’s swim team placed second at the 2019 Big East Championship, marking the program’s highest finish since joining the conference.


Prior to joining the Big East, MacDonald led the program to sustained success in the Atlantic 10. Following a third-place finish by the men’s swimming team in 2011-12, MacDonald was named the A Men’s Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year -10. .


MacDonald coached one of the most decorated swimmers in the history of the men’s program at Xavier, Michael Zennedjian, who was named the 2009 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and a two-time Atlantic 10 Most Outstanding Performer (2011, 2012).


While successful in the pool, the Xavier men’s and women’s swimming programs have been equally successful in the classroom. Both teams were named a Scholar All-America team by the Collegiate Swimming and Diving Association of America each season since 2009-10.


Before joining the Musketeers, MacDonald spent two years as the aquatics director at the Marshfield YMCA in Wisconsin. He also served as head coach of the Marshfield (Wis.) High School girls swim team and assistant swim coach at Noblesville (Ind.) High School.


MacDonald swam for four years at Valparaiso and earned a degree in sports administration in 2003. He and his wife, Krista, have three children, Carys, Teague and Everly.



MacDonald at Xavier

 

Year	Conference Team Overall Finish (L/M)
2024	2when / 4th The Great East
2023	2when / 4th The Great East
2022	2when / 3st The Great East
2021	1St / 3st The Great East
2020	1St / 3st The Great East
2019	1St / 2when The Great East
2018	4th / 4th The Great East
2017	3st / 4th The Great East
2016	1St / 3st The Great East
2015	1St / 3st The Great East
2014	1St / 3st The Great East
2013	3st / 10th A-10
2012	3st / 8th A-10
2011	5th / 9th A-10
2010	6th / 8th A-10
2009	5th / 7th A-10