Courtesy: Clarkson Athletics
The Clarkson University Athletic Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Zack Wahl as the new head coach for the Golden Knights’ Swimming & Diving program for the 2018-19 season.
Wahl replaces long time head coach Mick Maguire, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
“We are excited to have Zack joining our staff,” Clarkson University Athletic Director Steve Yianoukos said. “As an outstanding swimmer at Union and his previous coaching positions, he has both the understanding of the Liberty League and the technical knowledge to take over a program that has a longstanding tradition. He will be a welcome addition to the program and I am confident that he will be able to take over the reins and provide a smooth transition for the team that has enjoyed plenty of stability with Mick Maguire at the helm for the past 31 years.”
“I am honored to take over the swimming and diving program from Mick Maguire, who built such a strong tradition for Clarkson University,” Wahl said. “I hope to continue the great student-athlete experience while building the competitiveness of the program within the Liberty League conference.”
A 2014 graduate of Union College with degrees in both Geology and Biology, Wahl has spent time at three different institutions as an assistant coach, including Middlebury College (2014-15), Springfield College (2015-17), where he earned an MBA in May 2017, and at SUNY Geneseo (2017-18). Over the course of that short period of time, Wahl helped coach 22 student-athletes to qualify for the NCAA Championships, including 10 All-American honors. At Geneseo alone, 22 swimmers were SUNYAC Champions and 12 qualified for the NCAA Championships.
A three-time All-American himself, Wahl was chosen as the Liberty League Swimmer of the Year in 2013-14 and earned CSCAA Scholar All-American honors that same year. At the Liberty League meet in December 2013, he won both the 100 butterfly (51.73) and 200 butterfly (1:57.09) while taking second in the 200 individual medley (1:59.13) and 100 freestyle (48.61). He holds Union College records for the 100 butterfly (49.44) and 200 butterfly (1:50.13) and also swam on the fastest 400 medley relay (3:21.93) and 200 freestyle relay (1:23.05) teams for the Dutchmen. Wahl competed at the 2014 NCAA Championships, placing 13th in the 200 butterfly (1:50.35), while also swimming the 200 and 400 medley relays for Union.
Additionally, Wahl was a Senior National Championships Qualifier for USA Swimming, representing the Webster Blue Fins swim team in the 100 and 200 butterfly events at the 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships.