WASHINGTON - After four years with the American University swimming & diving programs, Matt McKenney has been elevated to Associate Head Coach for the Eagles, working alongside fifth-year head coach Garland Bartlett. McKenney, who arrived at AU in September, 2021, has a combined 19 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience.

"Matt has been an invaluable part of this program since his start in 2021," said Bartlett. "His care for the student-athletes in and out the pool, recruiting efforts, and loyalty to the program have been something that I am very grateful for this team to have. This promotion is so well deserved!"

McKenney has helped oversee huge gains in the program in roster numbers, competitive success, and continued excellence in the classroom. The Eagles' most recent standout graduate, Mimi Watts, earned 12 Patriot League medals including nine golds. In the classroom, both squads earned CSCAA Scholar All-America recognition for a 61st straight semester in the spring of 2025. For the fourth year in a row in 2023-24, the men's team earned the top GPA award among men's sports in the department, while the women were second after a three-year run at the top.

While with the Machine Aquatics swim club in Vienna, Va., McKenney was the Potomac Valley Swimming coach for the 2021 USA Swimming Eastern Zone Championship. McKenney coached multiple age group finalists with Machine Aquatics, and with the Severna Park Racquetball Club Stingrays, he coached multiple Maryland LSC champions.

In 2016, McKenney graduated from Towson University where he was a two-time 200 butterfly champion in the Colonial Athletic Association. He was a two-time team captain at Towson and was named Men's Swimmer of the Year three times. McKenney earned four top-eight finishes at CAA Championships, getting both a second and third-place finish in the 500 free in addition to his two championships in the 200 fly.

For more information on AU swim and dive, follow the team on Twitter (@AU_SwimDive), Facebook (@AU.SwimDive) and Instagram (@au_swim_dive).