FREDERICK, Md. – Matthew McKenney has been named the new men's and women's swimming head coach at Hood College, Director of Athletics Dr. Susan Kolb announced.  
 
"I'm excited to join a community that values both academic excellence and athletic ambition," said McKenney. "This program has a strong foundation, and I can't wait to help our student-athletes push their limits in the pool and in the classroom."
 
McKenney has served on American University's coaching staff for the past five years most recently promoted to associate head swim coach in the summer of 2025. He spent his time primarily coaching the mid-distance and distance swimmers on the squad while leading the team's recruiting efforts.
 
"I'm grateful to the student-athletes, staff, and Coach Bartlett at American University for giving me my start in collegiate coaching. My time there shaped me tremendously and prepared me well for this next step as a head coach. I'll always value the relationships and experiences we built together."
 
The program's newest head coach provides almost 25 years of competitive swimming and coaching experience and has spent time coaching the youth in the DMV. Working alongside the head coach for the Eagles, 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 63rd straight semester in the fall of 2026. 
 
"We are thrilled to welcome Matt McKenney to Hood College," said Dr. Kolb.  "During his time with the search committee, it was clear Matt possesses elite knowledge in swimming, and also a genuine commitment to developing student-athletes both in and out of the pool. His vision for building a culture of accountability, resilience, and excellence aligns perfectly with our department's values. We're excited to see the impact he'll have on our student-athletes and our swim programs."
 
This past season at Hood College, the swim teams had numerous program Top 10 times broken with senior Sophia Routzahn (Frederick, Md./Tuscarora) earning silver in both the 100-yard butterfly and breaststroke events at this past MAC Swimming & Diving Championships. The men's team had conference competitors in both the 100-yard and 500-yard freestyle.
 
McKenney earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 2016 from Towson in communication studies and is a Level 2 American Swimming Coaches Association coach. As a Tiger, he was a two-time 200-yard 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 freestyle in addition to his two championships in the 200 butterfly.