Michigan Hires Kyle Patnode as Assistant Coach

Michigan Hires Kyle Patnode as Assistant Coach

Michigan on Monday hired Kyle Patnode as an assistant head coach.

Patnode spent the previous four years at the University of Illinois as an assistant coach, leading the Fighting Illini to several school records. He was an assistant coach at South Carolina in 2021-22, a volunteer assistant at Ohio State for the Big Ten champion Buckeyes in 2020-21 and in the same role previously at Iowa.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kyle Patnode to our staff,” Michigan head coach Matt Bowe said in a press release. “Kyle is an incredibly creative young coach who brings valuable experience from both the SEC and the Big Ten, as well as a unique background in both swim coaching and strength and conditioning. One of Kyle’s greatest strengths is his ability to build meaningful relationships with student-athletes, and that will be a tremendous asset to our program. His energy, versatility, and commitment to athlete development make him a perfect fit for our staff, and we’re excited about the impact he will have on our team moving forward.”

Big Ten Swimming News

Patnode also brings strength and conditioning experience. He swam at Iowa from 2013-17, earning his bachelor’s degree in health and human physiology with a minor in human relations. He won the Hawkeyes’ Jim Marshall Award as the senior men’s swimmer with the biggest impact on the program.

“Joining the Wolverine family is an incredible honor, and I am deeply grateful to the leadership at the University of Michigan for this opportunity,” Patnode said. “Looking back at the journey that brought me here, I feel immensely blessed by the mentors, athletes, and colleagues who have supported my growth. There is a legendary tradition of excellence in Ann Arbor, and what excites me most is the road ahead. The opportunity to pour into these student-athletes, challenge the program to reach new heights, and continue to build a championship culture together. Go Blue.”

A week earlier, Bowe promoted Gunnar Schmidt to associate head coach after three years as an associate coach.

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