NCAA Champion Max McHugh Retires, Joins Colorado College as Coach
NCAA breaststroke champion Max McHugh this week announced his retirement from swimming and that he is taking a job as an assistant coach at Colorado College.
McHugh was a four-time NCAA champion in breaststroke at the University of Minnesota. He graduated in the spring of 2023 with a degree in psychology. He swam on through Olympic Trials in 2024, finishing 26th in the men’s 100 breast. McHugh served as an assistant coach at the University of St. Thomas while continuing to train in 2023-24.
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“I am extremely excited to join the CC community and become a part of such an accomplished and passionate team,” McHugh said in a university press release. “It is clear to me why I was drawn to this program and eager to contribute. I look forward to collaborating with our talented student-athletes and staff to build on our legacy and reach new milestones together. I must thank Jen Buffin, (Director of Athletics) Lesley Irvine, and the entire search committee for their confidence in me and for making this opportunity possible. I can’t wait to get started and contribute to our shared success.”
McHugh won the NCAA title in the men’s 100 breast in 2023 and finished third in the 200 breast at his final NCAAs. He won the 100 breast at three consecutive NCAAs from 2021-23, just the seventh man to do that. In 2021, he did the breaststroke double at NCAAs.
McHugh is a seven-time Big Ten champion. He was named team MVP in four of five seasons at Minnesota and was the university’s Student-Athlete of the Year among all sports in 2023. He finished tied for seventh in the 100 breast at Olympic Trials in 2021.
“Max brings a wealth of knowledge from his athletic experience as a Division I athlete and understands what it takes to compete at the highest level as an NCAA Champion and National team member,” head coach Jen Buffin said. “His drive to be successful is going to have a significant impact on the development of our student-athletes as well as support our program’s vision and goals.”