The Northwestern University swimming program has hired Matthew Lowe as an assistant coach, the school announced Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to add Matthew to our coaching staff,” head coach Rachel Stratton-Mills said in the university’s press release. “He brings valuable perspective from his experiences and success across multiple programs. I’m excited for the energy and expertise he’ll bring to our student-athletes every day, and am confident he’ll have an immediate impact on our program.”
Lowe comes to Northwestern from St. Bonaventure, where he spent the past two seasons as the associate head coach of both the men’s and women’s programs. The women finished eighth out of 11 teams at the 2024 Atlantic 10 Championships and were ninth this past season. The men were third during the 2024 season before taking runner-up honors this past season.
He spent the 2022-23 season at Army West Point, where both the men’s and women’s teams secured second place at the Patriot League Championships.
Prior to his season with Army, he served as an assistant coach and men’s recruiting coordinator at Towson University from 2017-22. During his tenture, the Tigers broke 48 program records, posted over 100 top-10 program times, and broke three CAA records. He also played an integral role in leading the Tigers to their first Colonial Athletic Association Championship in 2021.
Lowe also helped coach the only two men’s swimmers in school history to score at NCAA Championships, Jack Saunderson and Brian Benzing. Saunderson qualified for the NCAA’s in 2017, 2018 and 2019, competing in the 100 fly, 200 fly, and the 200 IM. He was named an All-American and represented the United States at the World University Games in 2019. Benzing qualified for the NCAAs in 2022 in the 100 breast, where he touched 12th, and earned an All-America Honorable Mention.
Beyond the collegiate scene, Lowe served as the head age group coach at the Loyola Blakefield Aquatics Club during the 2017-18 season.
Lowe graduated from Towson in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. During his collegiate swimming career, broke team records in the 500, 1000, and 1650 freestyle events. He was also conference champion in the 1650 frees in 2014 and 2015, and runner-up in the 500 free in 2015.
He represented the Bahamas at the international level and currently holds long course national records in the 800 free and 1500 free. He competed at both the 2013 and 2017 World Championships, placing 35th in the 1500 free and 40th in the 400 free in 2013, and 40th in the 200 fly and 63rd in the 200 free in 2017.
Lowe joins a staff that includes fellow assistants Margaret Howe, Jacob Siar, Eddie Larios, and the recently-hired Mario McDonald. Per the team’s roster, Lowe appears to have taken the position previously held by Steve Iida.
The Northwestern women placed ninth out of 14 teams at the 2025 Big Ten Championships, while the men were seventh out of nine teams. Seven women and eight men qualified for the NCAA Championships, but no athletes scored.
Great hire! The wildcats picked up a coach who cares not only for the swimmers in pool success, but their over all wellbeing. Go wildcats!
Home run hire. Matt is exceptional and will provide immediate value to Northwestern. Great coach, great recruiter, personable, high level of emotional intelligence and an all-around joy to be around. Athletes and staff are going to love him.
Bittersweet to see you go, but we are incredibly proud of you and excited for your family. It was a privilege to share the deck with you for two years.
Once a Bonnie, always a Bonnie. Good luck in your next chapter. Love you, brother.