Colorado State University Athletics
Women's Swimming & Diving
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Phone:
- 970-491-7242
Former CSU student-athlete, MacKenzie Novell begins her sixth season (2018-19)Â as an assistant swim coach for the Rams. She was hired by head coach Christopher Woodard in September of 2013. As a former swimmer for the Rams and volunteer coach with the team, Novell brings with her a wealth of knowledge and passion about CSU Athletics.
The Rams are coming off one of their most successful seasons during Woodard's era, placing fifth in the 2018Â Mountain West Championships -- matching the team's result from 2017, which was its best since 2009.
CSU finished the 2017-18 season with an 8-3 dual meet record, its best since the 2009-10 season. This included a 6-0 stretch in dual meets in the second half of the season, including a sweep at a quad-meet in San Diego over MW foes San Diego State, New Mexico and Fresno State.
Haley Rowley won MW Swimmer of the Meet and MW Swimmer of the Year honors in 2018 after taking wins in three events at the 2018 MW Championship. In total, five Rams earned all-conference honors in 2018: Rowley, Rowan Hauber, Tonicia Thomas, Marie Goodwyn and Maddie Ward.
Goodwyn and Rowley each earned CSCAA Scholar All-America recognition and the squad again earned All-America honors.
After the 2017-18 season, the swim & dive team received the prestigious Public Recognition Award from the NCAA for earning a multi-year APR in the top 10 percent of all NCAA programs in its sport. Swimming & diving's multi-year distinction reflects its perfect APR of 1,000 for the 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic years. CSU earned a perfect APR score in 2017-18.
COLORADO STATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
MacKenzie graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in interior design in 2008. During her time at CSU she trained under former head coach John Mattos, competing in distance freestyle and IM. She was awarded the Leadership Award for the College of Applied Human Sciences in 2008.
Since being back at CSU she has become a Member of the Board of Directors for the Rams Alumni Athletes Association (RAAA), member of Ram Club, Rocky Mountain Swim Camp Co-Director, proud supporter of Rambition (CSU female student-athlete organization), and director of alumni relations for the women’s swimming and diving team.
2017-18 REVIEW
- 2018 MWÂ Swimmer of the Meet, Haley Rowley
- 2018 MWC Champion, 400 IM
- 2018 MWC Champion, 1650 FR
- 21 x NCAA ‘B’ Cut Swims (100/200 BR, 100/200 BK, 200/400 IM, 500/1650 FR)
- 12 x School Records Broke and/or Reset: 2 x 500 FR, 1000 FR, 1650 FR, 2 x 400 IM, 200 IM, 100 BK, 100 BR, 200 BR, 200 Medley Relay, 800 FR Relay
- 20 x New Additions to the CSU Top Times (200 FR, 500 FR, 1000 FR, 1650 FR, 100 BK, 200 BK, 100 BR, 200 BR, 100 FLY, 200 FLY, 2 x 200 IM, 2 x 400 IM, 200 Medley Relay, 800 FR Relay, 400 Medley Relay, 200 FR Relay, 400 FR Relay, Platform)
- 5 Rams awarded Mountain West All Conference
- 2 Rams earned Mountain West Swimmer of the Week, Toni Thomas and Marie Goodwyn
- 11th consecutive CSCAA Scholar All-American Award
- 7 student athletes earned a 4.0 GPA in the fall semester of 2017
- First six-meet winning streak for the Rams since the 2007-08 season
- Team's 8-3 dual meet record this season, best since going 9-2 in 2009-10
2016-17 REVIEW
- 14 x NCAA ‘B’ Cut Swims
- 14 x School Records Broke and/or Reset
- 32 x New Additions to the CSU Top Times
- 6 x Rams awarded Mountain West All Conference
- 10th consecutive CSCAA Scholar All-American Award
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PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE
In addition to being on the CSU swim & dive staff, Novell is a substitute coach for the USA Swimming Gold Medal Club Team and the Fort Collins Area Swim Team (2010-current). She previously coached at Vortex Swim Club (2008-10) and Poudre High School Swimming (2008-10). Novell volunteered as an assistant swim coach for the Rams from 2011-2013 prior to becoming a full time assistant in the fall of 2013.
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Additionally, she was the 2011 recipient of the Doc Counsilman Award, given by the American Swimming Coaches Association for creative and innovative workouts. She has represented Colorado Swimming at the age group zone level, and was selected to be member of the USA Swimming Women’s Leadership Summit in 2015 and 2017.
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COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Novell works closely with her athletes to create an environment where each individual can contribute to the team’s goals. Every workout is tailored for the student-athletes based on their swimming background, primary events and they are designed to magnify their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Novell strives to engage the student-athletes in each practice by using a multitude of training levels and technical drills. She aims to design training programs that will challenge the athletes while also encouraging a positive, team-centric attitude.
PERSONAL
Novell grew up on the central coast of California, attending Templeton High School and training with North County Aquatics. She is married to the head swim coach of FAST, Michael Novell. The couple had their first child, daughter Molly Brown Novell, during the summer of 2018. They joke their dinner conversation is often focused on how to create the perfect test set and design effective dry-land programs. They have two dogs, enjoy camping, backpacking and mountain biking when they aren’t on the pool deck.
