University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Add to Coaching Staff Ahead of 2026-27 Season
10/6/2026 4:19:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. – The University of Minnesota swimming and diving program has added to their coaching staff as they approach the 2026-27 season, welcoming back alumnus Zach Wood to the Maroon and Gold as an Assistant Coach.
"I'm immensely grateful to return to my alma mater and add another chapter to my University of Minnesota journey as a coach," said Wood. "This is an exciting chance for me to learn from an incredible coaching staff and make an impact on a group of amazing athletes that have chosen to be a part of our illustrious Gopher family legacy. I owe a debt of gratitude to Coach Kremer and the rest of the staff for being supportive and welcoming. Go Gophers!"
Wood most recently spent the 2025-26 season as the head coach of the swimming and diving program at Augsburg University. Wood helped lead the Auggies to a ninth place finish at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Championships, guiding three of five athletes to personal best times.
Prior to his time at Augsburg, Wood served as a coach at the youth and collegiate levels. From 2012-13, Wood served as an Assistant Coach for the University of St. Thomas where he was part of second-place finishes for both the Tommies men's and women's programs in MIAC competition.
From 2008-13, Wood worked as a lead coach for the Minnetonka Swim Club where he helped grow the program from 115 swimmers to more than 330 and led athletes to numerous age-group state championship titles and several Minnesota High School state championship titles. Wood also served as head coach for the Black Dog Swimming Club in Burnsville, Minn., from 2013-14.
Wood competed for the University of Minnesota from 2003-07, earning multiple Big Ten finalist honors and qualifying for the NCAA Division I national championships twice while earning All-American honors in 2007. He was named the Gophers' most improved swimmer in his first season and was a team co-captain his senior year. Wood also competed on the USA Swimming national level from 2004-08, earning All-American honors with an eighth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly in 2006. He also competed in three events at the 2008 US Olympic Trials.
Wood is a native of Alma, Mich., where he was inducted into the Alma School's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. He was a member of three Michigan state championship teams, was an eight-time individual state champion and an eight-time high school All-American. Wood was a three-time team MVP and team captain his senior year, setting school records in five different events and earning Michigan High School Swimmer of the Year honors in 2003.
"We are fortunate to welcome Zach as the newest member of our coaching staff!" said Director of Swimming and Diving, Kelly Kremer. "In addition to his love for Gopher Swimming and Diving, Zach brings new ideas, relentless energy, and a passion for swimming that is contagious!"
The Gophers kick off the year at home in the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on Saturday, Oct. 10, with a dual meet against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes beginning at 11:00 AM.
