Matt Macedo Promoted to Head Coach of UCSB Swimming

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – UC Santa Barbara has promoted Matt Macedo to Head Coach of its men’s and women’s swimming programs, Director of Athletics John McCutcheon announced Tuesday.

Macedo, who served as co-Head Coach this past season and Associate Head Coach in 2014-15, replaces Gregg Wilson who retired following the 2016 season after 40 years at UCSB.

“Matt brings great experience and success to the position of head coach,” McCutcheon said. “He also gives the program great continuity after being an important part of Coach Wilson’s staff the last two years. We feel Matt is a great fit for our program and university.”

Macedo is no stranger to the University of California system. Prior to joining the Gauchos’ staff in 2014, he spent six years at UC San Diego, the final three as head coach. During his time with the Tritons, he helped the program to a pair of NCAA Division II National Championship runner-up finishes (2010 and 2011), 66 school records, 18 national titles, 12 California Collegiate Athletic Association team championships, 188 All-American performances and three Division II records.

“I feel so fortunate to be able to continue my career here at UCSB,” Macedo said. “The past two years have been incredible and I look forward to working with the staff and the team as we chase our first conference team championship.  I want to thank the search committee, especially John McCutcheon, Kelly Barsky and Tom Hastings for trusting me to fill the very large shoes left by the legend that is Gregg Wilson. To work at such a prestigious academic university with an accomplished athletic department in a world renowned location is every coach’s dream and I cannot wait to begin my new role. Go Gauchos!”

Prior to this tenure at UCSD, Macedo served on the staff of two prestigious swimming training facilities. From 2007-08, he worked for The Race Club, where he trained a pair of 2008 Olympic medalists and a 2008 world champion. From 2004-07, he was the head coach at North Coast Aquatics in Carlsbad, Calif., where he coached groups of up to 50 top-level high school and age-group athletes.

“I’m thrilled with the appointment of Matt Macedo to succeed me as the head coach of UCSB’s men’s and women’s swimmers,” said Gregg Wilson. “As a world-ranked swimmer, national champion from Cal, national coaching expereince, six years at UCSD and the last two years in our program make him a perfect choice for this position. I’ve watched his skills and style enhance our program. As the head coach he will only continue to grow. He is an excellent technician, a proven recruiter of outstanding student-athletes, and he has a passion for coaching young men and women.”

In addition to his collegiate and club coaching experience, Macedo has international coaching as part of his resumé after serving as the head coach of Trinidad and Tobago’s national team at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Before moving into coaching, Macedo was a highly successful competitor. Internationally, he was a member of the USA National Team from 2001-03, an Olympic Trials finalist in 2001 and participated in the 2001 World University Games. In 1999, he was ranked in the top-20 worldwide in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle events.

Macedo’s experience in the UC system began as a student-athlete at Cal, where he competed for four seasons. Over his four campaigns as a member of the Golden Bears, he was a two-time national champion in the 400 yard freestyle relay (2001 and 2002) and recorded 20 All-American performances. He graduated from Cal in 2003 with a B.A. in American Studies. He is married (Ashley) and they have a newborn daughter (Morgan).