University of Minnesota Athletics
Zach Mertens To Join Gophers Staff as Assistant Coach
8/18/2023 10:05:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota Swimming and Diving programs have added Zach Mertens to their coaching staff, the team announced Friday. He will serve as an assistant coach.
"We are excited and fortunate to have Zach join us! He has been an instrumental part of Drury's success over the past several years," Director of Swimming and Diving Kelly Kremer said. "Zach is creative and tireless in his approach to recruiting, and he has proven to be a great educator and coach with the Panthers. We are looking forward to Zach's positive impact with our student-athletes and with our entire Golden Gopher Swimming and Diving Program."
Mertens joins the Gophers after spending six seasons on the swimming and diving coaching staff at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. Mertens served as a full-time assistant for five seasons with the Panthers.
"I'm thankful to Coach Kremer and the University of Minnesota's athletic department for this wonderful opportunity," Mertens said. "The 'U' embodies commitment to excellence for the entire student-athlete experience on a competitive stage like no other. I'm thrilled to be part of such a dedicated staff. Go Gophers!"
In 2022-23 he helped guide the men's swimming and diving team to an NCAA Division II runner-up finish as well as national championships in five events. The Drury women's team finished fourth in the country and won the GLVC Championship.
The Panthers' 2021 men's team featured Karol Ostrowski, who was named GLVC Freshman of the Year and competed for Poland in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
Mertens graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2014 with a degree in History and Political Science and was named to the Academic All-NSISC Team in 2013 and 2014.
Mertens was also a Jean K. Freeman Scholar with the CSCAA in 2022. The Jean Freeman Scholarship is given annually to six collegiate assistant coaches whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their institution, and whose leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness epitomize those characteristics reflected by Jean Freeman.
"We are excited and fortunate to have Zach join us! He has been an instrumental part of Drury's success over the past several years," Director of Swimming and Diving Kelly Kremer said. "Zach is creative and tireless in his approach to recruiting, and he has proven to be a great educator and coach with the Panthers. We are looking forward to Zach's positive impact with our student-athletes and with our entire Golden Gopher Swimming and Diving Program."
Mertens joins the Gophers after spending six seasons on the swimming and diving coaching staff at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. Mertens served as a full-time assistant for five seasons with the Panthers.
"I'm thankful to Coach Kremer and the University of Minnesota's athletic department for this wonderful opportunity," Mertens said. "The 'U' embodies commitment to excellence for the entire student-athlete experience on a competitive stage like no other. I'm thrilled to be part of such a dedicated staff. Go Gophers!"
In 2022-23 he helped guide the men's swimming and diving team to an NCAA Division II runner-up finish as well as national championships in five events. The Drury women's team finished fourth in the country and won the GLVC Championship.
The Panthers' 2021 men's team featured Karol Ostrowski, who was named GLVC Freshman of the Year and competed for Poland in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
Mertens graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in 2014 with a degree in History and Political Science and was named to the Academic All-NSISC Team in 2013 and 2014.
Mertens was also a Jean K. Freeman Scholar with the CSCAA in 2022. The Jean Freeman Scholarship is given annually to six collegiate assistant coaches whose exceptional contributions have brought recognition to their institution, and whose leadership, integrity, honesty, competitive attitude and personal graciousness epitomize those characteristics reflected by Jean Freeman.
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