Northwestern director of swimming and diving Rachel Stratton-Mills announced the addition of Mario McDonald to the swimming and diving coaching staff in August of 2025.
McDonald begins his coaching career at Northwestern after an impressive five-year collegiate swimming career at Ohio State. As a Buckeye, he competed in three NCAA Championships from 2023-25. He produced a Second-Team All-American performance as a member of the program's 400 free relay in 2024, and he also contributed to a pair of All-American Honorable Mentions this spring in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay at the 2025 championships.
In 2024, he qualified for the 50 free US Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"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."
The freestyle specialist also racked up several scholar-athlete awards in Columbus. He received Academic All-Big Ten honors from 2021-25, was named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2023 and 2025 and was a two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American Honorable Mention. He earned his M.S. in Kinesiology at Ohio State.
The Farmington Hills, Michigan, native was a nine-time All-State honoree and an eight-time All-American at Detroit Catholic High School. Swimming for head coach Jessica Stoddard, he was a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) All-American, a NISCA All-American and a NISCA Academic All-American.
McDonald begins his coaching career at Northwestern after an impressive five-year collegiate swimming career at Ohio State. As a Buckeye, he competed in three NCAA Championships from 2023-25. He produced a Second-Team All-American performance as a member of the program's 400 free relay in 2024, and he also contributed to a pair of All-American Honorable Mentions this spring in the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay at the 2025 championships.
In 2024, he qualified for the 50 free US Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"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."
The freestyle specialist also racked up several scholar-athlete awards in Columbus. He received Academic All-Big Ten honors from 2021-25, was named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2023 and 2025 and was a two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American Honorable Mention. He earned his M.S. in Kinesiology at Ohio State.
The Farmington Hills, Michigan, native was a nine-time All-State honoree and an eight-time All-American at Detroit Catholic High School. Swimming for head coach Jessica Stoddard, he was a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) All-American, a NISCA All-American and a NISCA Academic All-American.