Today on the GMM Podcast, we have Matt Hurst, head coach of Mercersburg Academy, one of the most storied high school programs in swimming.
Mercersburg isn’t just another prep powerhouse. This Pennsylvania boarding school has produced 32 Olympians, who’ve earned 11 Olympic medals, including five golds, representing the United States and 12 other nations. Beyond the Games, Mercersburg swimmers have collected hundreds of High School All-American honors, captured nine National High School team titles, and won more than 20 Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving Championships.
But this conversation isn’t just about the past. It’s about the choices coaches make, the culture they build, and how swimming itself is evolving.
Before taking over at Mercersburg, Hurst was the Associate Head Coach at Penn State. With that type of position, you might assume Matt’s next step would be a Division I head coaching job. Instead, he took a sharp turn choosing Mercersburg, and choosing to build a legacy in prep swimming rather than chase the collegiate grind.
We talk about that decision, what motivated it, and how Mercersburg’s unique campus environment shapes athletes differently. Hurst digs into the academic-athletic balance of a prep school model, where swimmers don’t just train to win races but to understand the “why” behind excellence.
Whether you’re a club or college coach, or a swim parent, I think you’ll appreciate this conversation. And I need to disclose that I’m an alum. I’m very biased on the topic of Mercersburg. I would not have won Olympic gold without my Mercersburg experience. It was transformative, and I hope that bleeds through a little in the conversation.
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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the interviewed guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the hosts, SwimSwam Partners, LLC and/or SwimSwam advertising partners.
In my book on Kiphuth and Yale on page 83 under the headline
The Panamanian – Alan Ford
“In the fall of 1942, Alan Ford, known as the Panamanian, enrolled at Yale, with high praise from legendary Mercersburg Academy … coach John Miller.
Note: Kiphuth and Miller had a strong relationship.
Back in the day Mercersburg had a few years with a dual meet versus Mission Viejo High (the Diablos). The mythical prep national champion versus the mythical public school champion programs.
Another interesting point is Mel missed being at Mercersburg contemporary with Benicio del Toro by one year. Almost one of The Usual Suspects, Mel, almost.
Mercersburg legends!
Unbiased GMM moment….
Great interview on both sides. Best wishes to Coach Matt and his family for a magical experience at “The Burg”.
The Prep School Mythical winner would have to be St. Augustine Prep in Richland , NJ. That be a great dual meet!
Alumni piece.
100%. As mentioned, would not have won OG gold if I had not gone to Mercersburg Academy for many, many reasons. One that might be interesting—I spent more time behind my desk than I did in the pool, and that did wonders for my confidence and focus.