Mickey Wender

Mickey Wender was appointed the head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming & diving program at Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in July 2019, and his tenure there has been marked by extraordinary success and program growth. During his first five seasons, his teams swept both the men’s and women’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) titles each year, and his 2024 women’s team finished as national runner-up and his men’s squad placed inside the top five nationally. Prior to CMU, Wender accumulated more than three decades of collegiate coaching experience, including head coaching stints at NCAA Division I programs: the University of Washington (1998-2006) and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point (2006-19). On international stage, he served as head coach for American Samoa at the 2008 Olympic Games. His coaching philosophy emphasizes holistic athlete development—on the platform, in the classroom, and in life. At CMU, his combined programs have achieved nearly 500 dual-meet wins and are known for excellence both athletically and academically. A University of Vermont graduate (B.A. in Physical Education, 1989) and master’s from Cal State-Northridge (1995), Wender is also known for his endurance-sport credentials—having completed two Ironman triathlons and finishing in the Top 10 of the Eco-Challenge adventure race. He and his wife Kate have four children, and the family resides in Grand Junction, Colorado.