Marshall Adds Nicole McConnell to Rebuilt Staff
Marshall University on Wednesday hired Nicole McConnell as an associate head coach, joining the staff of head coach Phoebe Campbell.
McConnell was most recently an assistant coach at Penn State. She previously spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Texas A&M.
She joins Campbell, who was hired in June as the head coach of the Thundering Herd. She replaced Ian Walsh, who was hired by Pitt. Campbell is charged with rebuilding Marshall, which dropped and reinstated its swim program during the last academic year.
“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Campbell and Marshall University for the opportunity to join the Herd,” McConnell said in a press release. “From the beginning, it was clear how much pride and passion surround this program. I’m excited to work alongside Coach Campbell and our staff as we invest in our student-athletes and create an environment where they can grow, compete, and succeed both in and out of the pool.”
McConnell hails from Texas. She helped A&M’s women’s team finish 14th at NCAAs in 2024, guiding nine qualifiers for U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024.
McConnell also coached at Aggie Swim Club. She had stints at Longview Swim Club from 2014-18 and a graduate assistant at the University of Evansville from 2018-20. A USA Swimming certified coach, she received her bachelor’s degree from LeTourneau University in Texas and a master’s of science in leadership from Evansville.
“My goal as I sought to fill this position was to find a coach who is knowledgeable, responsible, and driven; willing to put in the work necessary to ensure the team’s success,” Campbell said. “McConnell has shown time and time again that she can do all of that and more. McConnell and I have had many opportunities to collaborate over the years, and we have always brought out each other’s strengths. I am so pleased to have McConnell at Marshall, where we can work together to bring out the team’s strengths. Her knowledge, experience, and character will help us all as we strive for greatness.”
