University of Minnesota Athletics
Zach Mertens - Men's Swimming & Diving
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- merte105@umn.edu
Zach Mertens serves as the Associate Head Coach for the University of Minnesota men's and women's swimming and diving programs. Originally joining head coach Kelly Kremer’s staff as an assistant coach in August 2023, Mertens was promoted to Associate Head Coach ahead of the 2026–27 season. Since arriving in Minneapolis, he has been instrumental in developing the Gophers' sprint and middle-distance groups while playing a key role in team recruitment. Under his guidance, Minnesota student-athletes have earned multiple All-Big Ten selections, NCAA Championship qualifications, and academic honors.
Prior to joining the Golden Gophers, Mertens built an impressive coaching portfolio over six seasons (2017–2023) at Division II powerhouse Drury University, where he spent five years as a full-time assistant coach. During his time at Drury, he helped guide the Panthers to top-four national finishes for both the men's and women's programs, including NCAA DII men's national runner-up finishes. His work developing elite sprinters and relay squads earned him national recognition, culminating in his selection as one of six collegiate coaches nationwide to receive the prestigious Jean K. Freeman Scholarship in 2022.
A native of Saint Charles, Missouri, Mertens graduated in 2014 from Ouachita Baptist University, where he was a multi-year student-athlete for the Tigers swimming and diving program. As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), he integrates high-performance strength and conditioning principles directly into his daily poolside coaching methodology.
