Washington State University Athletics
Russell Whitaker Named Mountain West Coach of the Year
April 02, 2026 | Swimming
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 2, 2026) – Washington State Swimming Head Coach Russell Whitaker was named the 2026 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, as voted on by the conference coaches the conference office announced Thursday.
Â
Whitaker guided the Cougars to their best season in program history in just his second year as head coach, becoming the first Cougar swimming coach to earn conference coach of the year honors.
Â
This past season, Washington State finished second at the Mountain West Conference Championships, posted its second straight undefeated season after going 7-0 in dual meets and produced 12 all-conference selections, four all-conference relay teams, and two All-Americans for the first time in program history.
Â
At the 2026 MWC Championships in Houston, despite not having a diving program, the Cougars finished second among the 11 teams for the best finish at a conference championships in program history. The Cougars claimed seven event titles, six individuals medaled and sophomore Darcy Revitt was named Co-Swimmer of the Meet. Following the championships, a program-record 12 swimmers and four relays earned All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Â
For the fourth straight season and second under Whitaker, multiple Cougars earned trips to the NCAA Championships where senior Emily Lundgren and Revitt became the first set of Cougar teammates to earn All-America honors in the same season. Lundgren and Revitt both earned All-America second-team honors at the 2026 NCAA Championships after Lundgren finished No. 15 in the 200 Breast while Revitt finished No. 16 in the 100 Free.
Â
This past season, the Cougars set 47 WSU Top-10 times, set 16 school records and nine Gibb Pool records.
Â
Prior to being named the head coach in May of 2024, Whitaker worked seven seasons as the Cougars Director of Operations and later became an assistant coach for the 2023-24 season.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Whitaker guided the Cougars to their best season in program history in just his second year as head coach, becoming the first Cougar swimming coach to earn conference coach of the year honors.
Â
This past season, Washington State finished second at the Mountain West Conference Championships, posted its second straight undefeated season after going 7-0 in dual meets and produced 12 all-conference selections, four all-conference relay teams, and two All-Americans for the first time in program history.
Â
At the 2026 MWC Championships in Houston, despite not having a diving program, the Cougars finished second among the 11 teams for the best finish at a conference championships in program history. The Cougars claimed seven event titles, six individuals medaled and sophomore Darcy Revitt was named Co-Swimmer of the Meet. Following the championships, a program-record 12 swimmers and four relays earned All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Â
For the fourth straight season and second under Whitaker, multiple Cougars earned trips to the NCAA Championships where senior Emily Lundgren and Revitt became the first set of Cougar teammates to earn All-America honors in the same season. Lundgren and Revitt both earned All-America second-team honors at the 2026 NCAA Championships after Lundgren finished No. 15 in the 200 Breast while Revitt finished No. 16 in the 100 Free.
Â
This past season, the Cougars set 47 WSU Top-10 times, set 16 school records and nine Gibb Pool records.
Â
Prior to being named the head coach in May of 2024, Whitaker worked seven seasons as the Cougars Director of Operations and later became an assistant coach for the 2023-24 season.
Â
Â
Â
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
BREAST/IM
/ Swimming
FREE
/ SwimmingWSU Swimming: Get to know Senior Clara Anderson presented by Toyota! | 3/30/26
Monday, March 30
WSU Swimming: "Absolute Blast" | Russell Whitaker Mountain West Championship Recap | 3/4/26
Thursday, March 05
WSU Swimming: Relay A wins 400 Yard Freestyle Relay at the Mountain West Championships | 2/21/26
Sunday, February 22
WSU Swimming: Darcy Revitt wins 100 Yard Freestyle Championship Final | 2/21/26
Sunday, February 22
