University of California - Davis Women's Swimming And Diving

A veteran of more than a decade of collegiate and international coaching experience, Matt Macedo was named UC Davis' head women's swimming and diving coach, announced Director of Athletics Rocko DeLuca on May 18, 2021. The Aggies become Macedo's fourth University of California connection: he was a 20-time All-American as a student-athlete at Cal, then made highly successful coaching stops at UC San Diego (2008-14) and UC Santa Barbara (2014-21) prior to his arrival in Davis. The 2003 Golden Bear graduate in American studies replaces Barbara Jahn, who served as the UC Davis swimming and diving head coach for 46 years until her retirement this spring. "I am both honored and humbled to follow coach Barbara Jahn to lead the Aggies' swimming and diving program. UC Davis has a rich tradition of academic and athletic excellence, it was clear to me throughout this process that the department is committed to its staff and student-athletes. Having competed against UC Davis in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation the past seven years, I am focused on continuing the program's quest for conference championships and success in the NCAA postseason." Added Macedo, "I'm excited for my family to join the incredible Davis aquatics community and appreciate Rocko's commitment to my vision for the program. I know I have big shoes to fill and cannot wait to get started. Go Ags!" Macedo comes to UC Davis from Mountain Pacific Sports Federation leaguemate UC Santa Barbara, where he served two seasons as an associate head coach followed by the last five as the head coach. During that stop, he earned back-to-back MPSF Coach of the Year honors, thanks to men's team championships and women's runner-up finishes in each of the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons. Overall, Macedo's swimmers won a total of 61 individual and relay championships at the MPSF meet, with a school-record 11 competing at the 2016 Olympic Trials. Furthermore, five current MPSF championship records come from his five years as the Gaucho head coach. Before his stop in UCSB, Macedo served as the head men's swimming and diving coach at UC San Diego from 2011-14. In just three seasons, his Triton student-athletes set three NCAA Division II records, won 16 national titles and garnered 125 All-America awards. Eight of his swimmers participated at the 2012 Olympic Trials – a UCSD program high – including former Aggie Matt Herman, who placed in the top 20 in the 1,500-meter freestyle. Macedo arrived at UCSD in 2008 as an assistant coach, then was elevated to the head coaching helm in August 2011 following the team's second-place finish at the NCAA D-II meet. Macedo coached for two top clubs before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, including the The Race Club in Islamorada, Florida. As an assistant to Mike Bottom, he prepared 13 athletes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, including medalists Nathan Adrian (400 free relay) and Milorad Cavic (100 butterfly). Macedo then made the trip to Beijing as the head coach for Trinidad and Tobago, mentoring George Bovell III to an 11th-place finish in the 50 free. "We are excited to welcome a coach with Matt's experience and philosophy to the UC Davis family," said DeLuca. "His record of success at UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego speaks for itself, and we have no doubt he will continue the tradition of excellence with our swimming and diving program.  "I would like to thank Anissa Nachman, the recruitment advisory committee and our senior staff for guiding a competitive search. I know our alumni and fans will enjoy getting to know Matt and his family as we welcome them to the Davis and Aggie community." As a collegiate student-athlete, Macedo won 20 total All-America awards at four NCAA championship meets, including consecutive 400 free relay titles in 2001 and 2002. He competed at the 2000 Olympic Trials in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, reaching the finals (sixth) in the former. Macedo ranked among the world's top performers in the two sprint free events, garnered Pacific Swimming Swimmer of the Year (2000) and swam for the U.S. National Team (2001-03). He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in American studies and a concentration in public health and public policy. Macedo originally hails from San Jose, California, where he starred for Leland High School and Almaden Swim & Racquet Club. His arrival to the Aggies also serves as a homecoming: his wife, the former Ashley Miller, starred for Davis High and is the daughter of former UC Davis water polo player Curt Miller.   MACEDO AT A GLANCE • UC Santa Barbara Men's & Women's Swimming, Head Coach (2016-21)... two-time MPSF Men's Coach of the Year. • UC Santa Barbara Men's & Women's Swimming, Co-Head Coach (2014-16) • UC San Diego Men's Swimming & Diving, Head Coach (2011-14) • UC San Diego Men's & Women's Swimming, Assistant Coach (2008-11) • Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Swim Team, Head Coach (2008) • The Race Club, Assistant Coach (2007-08) • North Coast Aquatics, Head Coach (2004-07) • Won 20 All-America awards including two NCAA relay titles at Cal (1999-02) • Member of USA National Swimming Team (2001-03) • Competed at 2000 Olympic Trials and 2001 World University Games

Carl Weigley joined the UC Davis women's swimming & diving program as its primary assistant coach in September of 2021, helping complete the staff under new head coach Matt Macedo. Weigley most recently served as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina State, which he joined in the summer of 2019. However, he is no stranger to California swimming: he was the assistant coach for two seasons at Pacific prior to his arrival with the Wolfpack, and spent the six previous years as an assistant at his alma mater, Fresno Pacific. During that span with the Sunbirds, Weigley directly mentored eight NAIA individual champions, another seven relay champions, and an NAIA Swimmer of the Year. In fact, Weigley was a member of FPU’s original recruiting class, going on to establish the program as a national power. He won 11 individual and relay titles, took part in eight NAIA records and helped the Sunbirds to national team titles in each of his junior and senior seasons. Weigley later competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 100-meter butterfly and freestyle events. Four years later, he returned to the Trials, where he placed 12th in the 100 fly. Weigley, who originally hails from Tacoma, Washington, graduated from FPU in 2011 with a degree in exercise science. “I am honored and excited to join the staff at UC Davis,” Weigley said. “Matt is someone I’ve known and respected for years, and I look forward to sharing the deck with him. I can’t wait to meet the girls and help Davis compete at the highest levels in the MPSF and beyond.”

Laurel Abernethy enters her first season as the Assistant Diving Coach at UC Davis in 2025-26, bringing many years of coaching experience and a strong record of developing high-level divers.  Abernethy joins the Aggies after serving as the head diving coach at Cal Poly, where she was appointed in 2023 and later took on director of operations duties for the swimming and diving program. In her few competitive seasons with the Mustangs, five top-five marks in school history were set under her direction.  Before Cal Poly, Abernethy spent two seasons (2021-23) as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, BYU, while also serving as head development coach for the Cougar Dive Club. During her tenure, BYU divers captured three individual titles at the 2023 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, helping the Cougar men win the team crown.  As a collegiate athlete, Abernethy was a six-time Western Athletic Conference finalist on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards for BYU from 1990-94. She transitioned immediately into coaching, mentoring NCAA qualifiers and Olympic Trials participant Jake Crayne, among many others, through her work at BYU, Nebraska, and later with the Capital Divers in Sacramento. Abernethy is no stranger to UC Davis, having previously served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Aggies from 2012-16 while living in the Sacramento area. Diving is a family passion for Abernethy. Her husband, Glenn, was a two-time conference champion swimmer at BYU, while two of their three children also competed for the Cougar swimming and diving program. Her other son, Boyd, is a professional Jiu Jitsu fighter.

After a successful 20-year run as the head diving coach at UC Berkeley, Phil Tonne brought his expertise up Interstate 80 to the Aggie program at the start of the 2004-05 season.  Tonne's ever-growing stable of divers has made substantial contributions to the Aggies' team success at the Big West Conference, culminating with Jennifer Meyer's 1-meter title and Jason Andrade's 3-meter championship at the 2010 edition of the conference meet - both program firsts. Under Tonne's guidance, UC Davis diving has steadily improved as the program has moved through the ranks of Division I. The women's squad scored 139 points at the 2007 league meet, led by Kristyn Chaldekas' second-place finishes on both boards, while Jamie Flynn was the 3-meter runner up in 2008. Tonne's student-athletes have also left their marks on the UC Davis records as every Aggie diving record has been set by Tonne's students on both the men's and women's side. In 20 years with the Golden Bears, Tonne's finest hour came in 1991, when he guided Melissa Graviss to a seventh-place finish on the 3-meter board. She was Cal's first-ever women's diver to qualify for the NCAA Championship. Graviss qualified for the national meet on both springboards in 1992 as well. In 2004, Tonne protegé Louie Gagnet reached the national meet on the tower and both springboards. In his career, Tonne has coached two Pac-10 men's finalist and one conference champion on the women's side. Additionally, every Golden Bear diving record was set during his tenure. In addition to his collegiate guidance, Tonne also served as head coach for the Diablo Divers in Walnut Creek, Calif. During that time, he oversaw the careers of 23 North Coast Section champions, one age-group national champion, 11 Junior Olympic participants and six senior national competitors. Also under Tonne's guidance: his Aggie predecessor Karla Helder, who has captured numerous national and world master's national titles in recent years. Tonne was a two-time JC All-American diver at Chabot College before continuing his career at San Diego State. He was twice named MVP for the Aztecs. Tonne graduated from SDSU in 1979 with a degree in physical education.