Michael Cotter Will Return Home, Transferring From Texas to UNC for Senior Year

After entering the transfer portal in late march, Michael Cotter has decided to spend his final year of eligibility at UNC, returning to his home state. Cotter is a Cary, North Carolina native and was the #3 recruit in the high school class of 2022.

He originally committed to NC State and spent two half-seasons in Raleigh before transferring to Texas.

His freshman season was disrupted in November 2022 after he tore his ACL and fractured his tibia. At NC State’s mid-season invite, which was his final meet that season, he hit times of 43.25 in the 100 free, 1:34.45 in the 200 free, and 1:45.08 in the 200 IM. Though they were off his high school bests, all were season bests and within a second of his PBs. Cotter returned to competition five months later in May 2023 at the Pro Swim Series stop in Mission Viejo, where he finished 2nd in the 200 free (1:48.21).

Cotter remained at NC State that fall for his sophomore season, representing the Pack at numerous dual meets before swimming his final meet for the Wolfpack at their midseason invitational. Then, during the spring semester of his sophomore year, he returned to his home club, training with the TAC Titans. He went on to enter the transfer portal in mid March of 2024 and ultimately announced his transfer to Texas last July along with a flurry of other big names such as Hubert Kos, Rex Maurer, and Aaron Shackell—who similarly is heading to his third school after transferring to Indiana earlier this month.

At Texas, Cotter set PBs in his main events for the first time since 2022 Speedo Sectionals. He set bests in the 100 free (43.01) and 200 IM (1:44.49), with the former coming from the Texas Hall of Fame Invitational and the latter from the Eddie Reese Texas Showdown. He did not make the Longhorns’ conference roster, however, and the last meet he competed at was the Sterkel Classic on February 1st.

Best Time Progression

Cotter’s transfer, which is likely a result from being cut from Texas’ roster, comes days after the announcement of a transfer portal specifically for “designated student-athletes” (DSAs). These are students who have been released from their NCAA teams due to the approval of the House v NCAA case, which officially imposed roster limits on Division 1 sports. For swimming and diving in the SEC, this meant a maximum of 22 men on the team. This portal opened on July 7th, and will remain open until August 5th.

In the ACC, there is a 30 person roster limit for both men and women’s swimming and diving teams. This past season, UNC had 34 men on their roster — with 6 graduating and 5 incoming freshman recruits, UNC likely had to make some cuts as well; Cotter however, as a DSA would not count towards the 30 person limit at UNC as all athletes identified as DSAs will not count against the roster cap at the new school they transfer to for the remainder of their collegiate eligibility.

UNC finished 23rd at NCAAs this past season and 4th at ACCs thanks to standout performances from Ben Delmar, Patrick Hussey, and Louis Dramm. At NCAAs, Delmar finished 13th in the 200 breast while Dramm came in 11th in the 200 IM and 13th in the 400 IM. UNC’s finish at both ACCs and NCAAs in 2025 were significant improvements upon their placings in 2024, where the Tar Heels were 8th at ACCs and 33rd at NCAAs.

Cotter’s arrival should continue to boost UNC’s upwards trajectory, as he holds immense relay value. His best time in the 100 free would have ranked him 4th on UNC’s roster last season, while his 200 free—both his PB and 2025 season best—would have ranked him 2nd. Hussey, who ranks ahead of him in both events, graduated this spring, making Cotter UNC’s quickest returning 200 freestyler. To score at the 2025 ACC Championships, it took times of 42.78/1:34.41 in the 100/200 free.

Cotter will join distance freestyle/IMer Hudson DeGroote, who is also North Carolina native from NC State, as a transfer this fall. Further, the Tar Heels will welcome Granger Bartee, Sam Huggins, Benton Grutter, Julian Swiderski, and David Melnychuk as members of their freshmen class.