Head coach Katie McComb enters her fifth season with the Falcons in 2021-22. In her first year, the women's program claimed their fifth-straight MAC Championship, sending two female student-athletes to compete at the NCAA Division III Swimming Championships. McComb was also named the MAC Women's Coach of the Year in 2017-18. During the 2018-19 season, McComb coached the women's program to their sixth-straight MAC Championship with Kaylee Hollenbach being named the MAC Swimmer of the Year and Nancie Ziegler earning the Rookie of the Year award.
The abbreviated 2021 campaign was a successful one for Messiah swimming as the women's team captured its seventh MAC Championship within the past eight seasons. The men's team earned a fourth-place finish, as both teams combined for 16 medals at the virtual Championship meet. For the second time in her career, McComb was crowned with MAC Coach of the Year on the women's side, as Sophie Schulze earned the program's fourth-consecutive MAC Rookie of the Year honor.
McComb is former Hershey High School product and former NCAA Division I swimmer at the University of North Carolina, and she has most recently been working as an assistant swim coach and communications manager at the Hershey Aquatic Club.
McComb is both a passionate and dynamic presence on the deck, and also a well-trained and highly-decorated swimmer from the highest of levels. The Hershey product was a 12-time PIAA gold medal winner, including four-time champion in the 100 butterfly and three-time champion in the 100 freestyle. She was a National Junior Team member in 2007, and in her senior year was awarded Scholastic All-America honors.
When McComb arrived at UNC in the fall of 2009, she had an immediate impact in the pool, contributing to the programs Honorable Mention All-American 200 free relay. During her sophomore season she helped the Tar Heels earn ACC Championships in both the 200 and 400 medley relays, and again was an Honorable Mention All-American in the 200 free relay.
McComb continued to pick up awards during her junior season, including ACC Championships in 400 medley relay and Honorable Mention All-American honors in the 800 free relay. Her highest athletic honor came during her senior campaign when she finished as an All-American (5th) in the 100 butterfly. She also finished 10th in the 200 butterfly at the NCAA Division I National Championships, and she was named the program’s Most Valuable Swimmer.
In 2012, McComb participated in the US Olympic Trials and finished 14th in the 200 meter butterfly with a personal record and then-school record time of 2:12.16. That year she also swam in the US Open, finishing 12th in the 200 meter butterfly and 14th in the 100 meter butterfly.
Last updated: 6/21