Courtesy of Midland Athletics
FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University has announced the hiring of Matthew Gilbert as its new swimming and diving head coach. He will be coming to the Warriors after three seasons coaching at Barton Community College where he guided the men’s and women’s teams to back-to-back top-five finishes at nationals in 2022 and 2023.
“I am excited to compete for conference and national championships,” commented Coach Gilbert. “I am looking forward to taking advantage of the facilities and resources Midland has to offer, which will play a key role in recruiting and growing the program. Also, I am excited to continue coaching with my wife Klara as we start building a contending team and continue growing as a coach at a four-year program.”
Prior to coaching the Cougars, Coach Gilbert was a volunteer assistant at the United States Air Force Academy, the associate head coach for the Rocky Mountain Rapids Swim Team, and the head coach at Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A native of Murrieta, California, he swam collegiately at Fresno Pacific University where he was a member of two NAIA National Championship teams. Coach Gilbert’s wife Klara will be joining the Warriors’ staff as an assistant coach. She swam collegiately at Fresno Pacific and in addition to being an assistant at Barton the past three seasons, she was the head coach at Great Bend High School.
“We are excited to have Matt join our athletic staff and lead our swimming and diving programs,” said Courtney Thomsen, Midland Director of Athletics. “Coach Gilbert has shown the ability to work with and develop championship-level athletes. Along with his wife Klara and their family, we feel that they are a great fit for our campus community and our student-athletes. We are thrilled to have them join the Warrior family.”
