UNC has added Gideon Louw and Kaersten Meitz to its staff for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Both Louw and Meitz come to UNC after previously spending time on Pitt’s coaching staff.
Louw joins the UNC staff as an associate head coach while Meitz joins as an assistant coach. Both were members of Pitt’s coaching staff this past season but it was unknown what would happen to the rest of the coaching staff after Chase Kreitler resigned from his position and diving coach Katie Kasprzak took over the program as its new Director of Swimming & Diving, as the program goes through a “strategic restructuring.”
Louw and Meitz will positions previously held by associate head coach Kirk Kumbier and his wife Kayla Kumbier, who was an assistant coach this past season. The Kumbier’s departed UNC to join Club Wolverine at the USA Swimming club level in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“We’re thrilled to add Gideon and Kaersten to our staff,” said UNC Head Coach Mark Gangloff. “One of the things that excites me most is that they have already established a working relationship and a chemistry that translates directly to results. Pairing that with what we have been building here at UNC creates something special, and I believe the best days of this program are ahead of us. It’s an exciting time for Carolina swimming and diving and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
Louw spent the last two seasons as an associate head coach at Pitt and had been with the Panthers since 2024. Prior to his time at Pitt, Louw spent six seasons at Auburn as an assistant coach. Louw had previous coaching stops at Minnesota and Florida State as well.
Meitz has spent the last two seasons at Pitt as an assistant coach. Prior to her time at Pitt, she spent one season as an assistant at Washington State.
The two depart Pitt after a historic season which saw the women’s team have their highest ever finish at the 2026 NCAA Championships while the men’s program had their highest finish in 73 years.
The Pitt women were 6th at the 2026 ACC Championships with 552 points, right ahead of UNC’s 7th place finish with 522.5 points. The UNC men were 8th at ACCs, compared to Pitt’s 11th place finish. The Pitt women were t-16th while the UNC women were 24th at NCAAs, and the UNC men were 19th while the Pitt men were 20th.
Massive get. Congrats G-Louw
What a great staff!