GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Colorado Mesa swimming and diving team has a new, very decorated head coach headed to the El Pomar Natatorium.
On Thursday, CMU announced the hiring of Michael “Mickey” Wender as their Swimming & Diving coach, as well as the team’s Triathlon coach. Wender arrives on the Western Slope with 30 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level. He most recently headed the swimming/diving program at Army West Point from 2006-2019.
In his long head coaching career, Wender has notched more than 400+ wins between Army, Washington, and the University of California Santa Cruz. Wender was also a head coach for American Samoa at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In a press release by CMU athletics, Wender said, “It’s an honor” to be named the next head coach for the Mavericks.
“I feel blessed to become part of this amazing institution and build upon the tradition of success of Maverick Athletics,” Wender said.
“[My family] couldn’t be more excited about making the move to Grand Junction. It has everything we’re looking for and is a great place to be part of the community and put down some roots.”