University of Minnesota Athletics
Hampel Added to Swimming and Diving Coaching Staff
8/12/2025 10:05:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota Swimming and Diving program welcomes in a new hire to boost their coaching staff for the upcoming 2025-26 season, adding Michael Hampel as an Assistant Coach for the team.
Hampel joins the Gophers from Southern Illinois University, where he spent the 2024-25 season as the Assistant Swimming Coach. During his time with the Salukis, Hampel oversaw the workouts of the Breastroke and IM groups while assisting with sprint group practices and playing a role in the recruitment of domestic and international athletes for the program. With his help, the Salukis finished as the highest scoring Division I mid-major in last season's Women's NCAA Championships while setting 27 Missouri Valley Conference records and 38 program records in the process.
"Michael comes highly recommended from numerous coaches and administrators within our profession. He is early in this profession, but his passion for teaching, coaching, and recruiting student-athletes is clear the second you meet him! Michael is an outstanding fit for our program and we are looking forward to his arrival in Minneapolis!" said Director of Swimming and Diving, Kelly Kremer.
Prior to SIU, Hampel was the leader of the sprint group at Keiser University, helping the women claim their third straight NAIA National Championship and leading their men to a runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championship. The women wrapped up the three-peat with 44 NAIA All-Americans, five relay All-American teams, four relay national championship teams, and three individual national championships. The men grabbed 45 NAIA All-Americans, five relay All-American teams, two relay national championship teams, and four individual national championships.
Before Keiser, he helped lead the University of West Florida swimming & diving program to their fourth consecutive NSISC Conference Championship and sixth overall in the program's tenth year. During his time in Pensacola, Hampel also helped lead the Argos to the largest margin of victory in NSISC history (407 points), the largest NCAA roster for the Argos in school history (16), 28 NCAA All-Americans, 45 Argos Top 10 All-Time Performances, and five school records.
"I am extremely excited to be joining the University of Minnesota Swimming and Diving staff. The leadership and loyalty to Minnesota this staff has shown is something difficult to find in today's college landscape. I am humbled to be a part of this community, University, and truly elite program. I cannot wait to help these student-athletes reach their God-given potential in and out of the pool. Go Gophers!"
Hampel earned a bachelor's in General Studies with an emphasis in Biomedical Science, Kinesiology, and Psychology from Missouri State University in 2022. He also earned a master's in professional studies with an emphasis and graduate certificate in Sports Management.