Bridgeport native, program alum named WVU Swimming and Diving Associate Head Coach

WVU swimming and diving is bringing a West Virginia-bred program alum onto the coaching staff.

The news was announced earlier this week that Bridgeport, W.Va native Michael Walker would be joining the program in the role of Associate Head Coach. Walker was a member of the program from 2005-09 and was a team captain during the 2007-08 season.

"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," WVU 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."

Walker helped pace a WVU program in 2007 that won a Big East Championship, and he secured individual titles in the conference in the 200-meter backstroke in 2008 and the 400-meter individual medley in 2008 and 2009.

Walker was also named an NCAA All-American honorable mention during his senior season as he advanced to the 400-meter IM at the 2009 NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving National Championships and earned an 11th-place finish overall. He also competed at the 2008 United States Olympic Trials in three events -- 200-meter breaststroke, 200-meter IM and the 400-meter IM.

After his competitive swimming career, Walker transitioned into helping develop a new generation of swimmers. He has coached at the Division 1 level as an assistant at both Delaware and Texas A&M, and also brings international coaching experience from his time helming the Guatemalan National Swim Team for two years in the mid-2010s. He also has experience coaching in the local competitive swim scene with a tenure as the Fairmont Area Swim Team (FAST) head coach in Fairmont, W.Va.

"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."