Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois has announced the hiring of Mario McDonald as a new assistant coach with the program. This is the start of McDonald’s coaching career after swimming five years on the varsity at Big Ten rivals Ohio State.
McDonald was a three-time NCAA Championship qualifier. In 2023 as a junior and 2024 as a senior, he swam as a member of Ohio State relays, while in 2025 he broke through to qualify individually in the 50 and 100 freestyles. He placed 62nd and 41st in those events, respectively, at the meet.
A sprinter by trade, McDonald graduated from Ohio State with lifetime bests of 18.97 in the 50 free and 42.48 in the 100 free. His time in the 50 free ranks him 4th all-time in program history behind only Matt Klinge (18.78), U.S. Olympian (18.93), and Daniel Baltes (18.96). Three of those four swam their best times last season.
McDonald was a five-time OSU Scholar-Athlete, four-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient, a 2023 and 2025 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and a five-time CSCAA Honorable Mention All-American on relays.
The Northwestern men scored 29 points in the 50 free and 17 points in the 100 free at last year’s Big Ten Championships. Those 46 combined points ranked them tied-for-5th among Big Ten programs at the meet, which is better than their 7th place overall performance.
The women’s team punched above their weight class in the sprints as well. They scored 53 Big Ten points, which was 6th out of 14 teams – they placed 9th overall as a team.
McDonald joins a staff led by head coach Rachel Stratton-Mills. Returning assistants include Margaret Howe, Jacob Siar, and Eddie Larios.
McDonald replaces Joe Bonk, another former top-end NCAA sprinter, who spent one season as an assistant at Northwestern.
“We’re excited to welcome Mario to our staff,” Stratton-Mills said. “Coming off an accomplished career in the Big Ten, he brings a firsthand understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level of our conference. His perspective, energy, and passion for the sport will be a great asset as we continue to elevate our program.”
He earned his M.S. in Kinesiology at Ohio State.
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Bolles School’s Wyatt Porch is staying in-state, announcing his commitment to Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the fall of 2025. Porch previously committed to Georgia back in 2023, and was ranked 13th in our Way Too Early re-ranking of the 2025 class.
After this long process I’m proud to announce that I have found home. I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Florida Atlantic University! I’d like to give a huge thank you to God, Friends, Family, and Coaches for their support throughout this process. I would also like to thank Coach Lara and Coach Ryan for blessing me with this opportunity!
Go Owls! ????
The Jacksonville native set the majority of his best times in 2022 and 2023.
Porch competed at the Winter Junior Championships East back in December, where he finished 45th in the 100 breast in 55.97 and 122nd in the 200 IM in 1:53.44.
One month prior, Porch finished fourth in the 100 breast at the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship with a final time of 56.17.
Porch was a part of the 2022 Bolles School Sharks 15-16 NAG record-breaking 400 medley relay, a record that still stands at 3:13.95. Porch split 53.85 as the breast leg of the relay.
Porch set his 100 and 200 breast lifetime bests at the 2022 Speedo Junior Championships East, where he finished 3rd in the 100 (53.88) and 17th in the 200 (1:57.98).
The FAU men finished as the runners-up to Queens University at the 2025 ASUN Championships. Porch’s best times would have been 3rd at those championships in the 100 breast and 200 breast, and 4th in the 200 IM.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour
Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.
FFT SOCIAL