Women's Swimming & Diving Don Stoner, Augsburg University Sports Information Director

Zach Wood named Augsburg women's swimming & diving coach

Zach WoodMINNEAPOLIS -- Zach Wood, who was an NCAA national championships qualifier and Big Ten finalist on three Big Ten champion teams at the University of Minnesota, has been hired as the new head coach for the Augsburg University women's swimming and diving team, the university has announced.
 
Wood is the ninth head coach in the history of the Augsburg women's swimming and diving team, which was established in the 2003-04 season. The Auggies are not competing in the 2024-25 season in order to strengthen the team's roster.
 
"I'm very excited and fortunate to have the chance to impact the lives of young adults that are eager to pursue their dreams in academics and in the pool," Wood said. "This is a formative time of life, and I can't wait to help student athletes grow in positive ways that help them on their journey to reaching their full potential."
 
Wood served as a coach at the youth and collegiate level, serving as a lead coach for the Minnetonka, Minn., Swim Club from 2008-13, as an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas in 2012-13, and as head coach for the Black Dog Swimming Club in Burnsville, Minn., in 2013-14.
 
At Minnetonka, the program grew from 115 swimmers to more than 330 during Wood's tenure, including numerous age-group state champions, titlists at multiple levels and several Minnesota high school state champions. He was part of second-place finishes for both the St. Thomas men and women in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference competition in 2012-13.
 
Wood transitioned out of full-time coaching in 2014, and has since continued to give lessons and volunteer at swimming events. He's spent the last 10 years in financial planning and wealth management roles in the Twin Cities.
 
Wood competed for the University of Minnesota men's swimming and diving team from 2003-07, earning multiple Big Ten finalist honors and qualifying for the NCAA Division I national championships twice, 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 school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016. He was a member of three Michigan state champion swimming teams, was an eight-time individual state champion and an eight-time high school All-American. He was named the Michigan High School Swimmer of the Year in his senior year of 2003. He was a three-time team MVP and team captain his senior year, setting school records in five different events.
 
Wood resides in Maple Grove, Minn., with his wife, also a former Gopher swimmer, and three children.