West Virginia University Athletics

Brent MacDonald was named the sixth head coach of the West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving program, as announced by Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker on May 23, 2024. 

2024-25

Throughout his first season at the helm of the Mountaineers, head coach Brent MacDonald faced a difficult schedule while laying the foundation for the program.
 
Three Mountaineers placed in the top eight at the 2025 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships. Senior Danny Berlitz swam the second fastest time in program history while placing third in the 200-yard backstroke (1:41.20), senior Justin Heimes placed fourth in the 100-yard backstroke (46.07) and senior Miranda Kirtley placed fifth in the women’s 1650-yard freestyle (16:38.70).
 
West Virginia also had success in the classroom as eight Mountaineers were named to the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. Six Mountaineers were also named Scholar All-Americans by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

Prior to West Virginia

MacDonald served as the head coach of the Xavier men's and women's swimming program since 2009 after serving as the interim head coach during the 2008-09 season and as an assistant coach from 2006-08.
 
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 Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Year award winners at Xavier.
 
The women's swimming team placed second at the 2019 Big East Championship, marking the program's highest finish since joining the conference.
 
Before 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 during the 2011-12 season, MacDonald was named the A-10 Men's Swimming and Diving Coach of the Year.
 
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 A-10 Rookie of the Year and twice earned the A-10 Most Outstanding Performer (2011, 2012).
 
While successful in the pool, the Xavier men's and women's swimming programs were equally successful in the classroom. Both teams were named a Scholar All-America Team by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America every 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 the head coach of the girls' swimming team at Marshfield (Wis.) High School and the assistant swimming coach at Noblesville (Ind.) High School.
 
MacDonald swam 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's Coaching History
 

Year	Conference Overall Team Finish (M/W)
2025	7th / 9th Big 12
2024	2nd / 4th Big East
2023	2nd / 4th Big East
2022	2nd / 3rd Big East
2021	1st / 3rd Big East
2020	1st / 3rd Big East
2019	1st / 2nd Big East
2018	4th / 4th Big East
2017	3rd / 4th Big East
2016	1st / 3rd Big East
2015	1st / 3rd Big East
2014	1st / 3rd Big East
2013	3rd / 10th A-10
2012	3rd / 8th A-10
2011	5th / 9th A-10
2010	6th / 8th A-10
2009	5th / 7th A-10