Kelly Kremer, entering his 27th season with the Minnesota Golden Gopher Swimming and Diving program, has built a legacy of success and development. Under his leadership, the team has become known for producing athletes who compete at the highest levels, excelling both in the pool and in their academic pursuits. This balance between sport and education is one of the cornerstones of Kremer’s coaching philosophy, helping the Gophers maintain their status as one of the top collegiate programs in the country.
Throughout Kremer’s tenure, the Golden Gophers have consistently placed swimmers and divers in the NCAA Championships. “Almost without exception, everyone that comes to Minnesota has to improve to be able to score even one point at the NCAA Championships,” says Kremer. His dedication to development has resulted in the Gophers ranking in the NCAA Top 25 every year in the lifetime of the current athletes he recruits. In 2024, both the men’s and women’s teams finished 20th nationally, continuing a long tradition of excellence.
The loss of key graduates like Megan Van Berkom, an NCAA finalist in the 400 IM and team captain, and Dez Sachtjen, who set a school record in the 200 back, is significant. Both were not only standout performers but also leaders whose influence extended far beyond their events. However, Kremer is confident that the leadership void will be filled by the current team, who are ready to step up.
On the women’s side, NCAA platform champion Viviana Del Angel and Katie McCarthy, who competed in three events at the NCAA Championships as a freshman, are expected to lead the team in 2025. On the men’s side, Bar Soloveychik, an NCAA finalist in the 1650 and 500 freestyle, and Yutong Wang, an A-finalist in 1m and 3m diving, will be key contributors this season.
Kremer is particularly excited about the incoming class, which includes several athletes poised to make an immediate impact at the NCAA level. Olivia Wanner, with times of 22.6 in the 50 free and 48.9 in the 100 free, Joe Polyak, a breaststroker with a 1:00.8 LCM time, and Jacob Johnson, a versatile flyer with 45 and 1:42 times in the 100 and 200 fly, respectively, are expected to be significant contributors to the team’s continued success.
The Minnesota Swimming and Diving program, according to Kremer, is a tightly knit group with shared goals. “We are an appreciative group of people. There are lots of individual differences among us, but we are very connected through our team’s common goals,” says Kremer. The program places a high value on coachability, the ability to balance academics and athletics, and the capacity to embrace big moments. Additionally, Kremer emphasizes the importance of athletes maintaining a healthy relationship with their sport, fostering both personal and team growth.
What sets Kremer’s program apart is the balance he strikes between individual and team success. The coaching staff places a strong emphasis on meeting the individual needs of each swimmer and diver while still prioritizing the goals of the team as a whole. This approach ensures that every athlete can thrive both personally and collectively, contributing to the program’s overall success.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers have a proud history of producing top-level athletes on the national and international stage. The program has had an Olympian in every Olympic Games since 1992 and a swimmer or diver has medaled in each of the last four Olympic Games. Additionally, since 2011, the Gophers have achieved 16 NCAA Championship performances, split between seven swimming and nine diving titles.
“We have been inside the NCAA Top 25 since 1991 on the men’s side and 2006 on the women’s side,” Kremer proudly notes. These are among the longest streaks of any school in the country and speak to the program’s enduring success under his leadership.
As Kelly Kremer and the Golden Gophers look forward to another competitive season, the blend of experienced leaders, impactful newcomers, and a strong, supportive team culture positions them for continued excellence. The Minnesota Swimming and Diving program, with its rich history and focus on development, remains one of the premier destinations for student-athletes looking to compete at the highest level while pursuing academic success.
With Kremer at the helm, the Golden Gophers are well-prepared to continue their tradition of success at the NCAA Championships and beyond, carrying their legacy of producing world-class athletes into the future.