West Virginia University swimming and diving head coach Brent MacDonald announced that former WVU swimming team captain and multi-time Big East champion Michael Walker will join the staff as an associate head coach. 

 

“I am extremely humbled to represent the Mountaineers once again,” Walker said. “This place is truly home to me and my family. I am incredibly grateful to Athletics Director Wren Baker, coach [Brent] MacDonald, and the entire athletic department leadership for this opportunity.”

 

Walker spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach for the Texas A&M swimming and diving program. Before joining the Aggies, he spent five seasons (2018-2023) at Delaware as an assistant coach and associate head coach.

 

“It took me very little time after being named head coach at WVU to realize that Michael would be my main target for associate head coach,” head coach Brent MacDonald said. “It’s not very often a candidate can pair a diverse coaching background with being an alum and native son of West Virginia. He and I are aligned on the potential we see for this program, and it will be great working alongside him.” 

 

Before joining the Delaware program, Walker was the head coach of the Fairmont Area Swim Team (FAST) in Fairmont, West Virginia, from 2016-18. He also served as an assistant coach at Fairmont State during this time. In his role at FAST, Walker developed season plans, workouts, meets and oversaw the operations of the club. 

 

Walker also served as an assistant coach for former West Virginia head swimming and diving coach Sergio Lopez for five seasons (2010-2015) at the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, before leaving the program to be the head coach of the Guatemalan National Swim Team. 

 

He spent two years leading the national team, serving as head coach for the 2015 Pan American Games and the 2015 FINA World Championships. 

 

Walker swam for WVU from 2005-09 and was a team captain during the 2007-08 season. He was also part of West Virginia’s Big East Championship season in 2007 and was a Big East champion in the 200 backstroke in 2008 and the 400 individual medley in 2008 and 2009. 

 

Walker was named an NCAA All-American honorable mention after placing 11th in the 400 IM at the NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving National Championships in 2009. He was a United States Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 breaststroke, 200 IM and the 400 IM in 2008. 

 

Walker is a native of Bridgeport and graduated from WVU with a degree in Sports and Exercise Psychology in 2009. 

 

He and his wife Brooke have a son, Hendricks. 

 

Editor's Note: Photos used with this story are courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics.