PULLMAN — After guiding the Washington State Cougars swimming and dive program to its winningest season, Head Coach Russell Whitaker has been named the 2026 Swimming Coach of the Year, according to a statement from the Mountain West Conference.  

Postseason accolades are voted on by the league’s 10 coaches, the statement said. Nevada’s Scarlett Ferris was selected as the 2026 MW Swimmer of the Year, while Grace Ally was named the Diver of the Year. Washington State’s Whitaker garnered the Swimming Coach of the Year honor, and San Diego State’s Roland McDonald was selected as the Diving Coach of the Year. 

According to WSU Athletics, Whitaker is also the first in program history to earn such an award. This past season, Washington State finished second at the Mountain West Conference Championships, posted its second straight undefeated season after going 7-0 in dual meets and produced 12 all-conference selections, four all-conference relay teams, and two All-Americans for the first time in program history. 

At the 2026 MWC Championships in Houston, despite not having a diving program, the Cougars finished second among the 11 teams for the best finish at a conference championships in program history.  

The Cougars claimed seven event titles; six individuals medaled and sophomore Darcy Revitt was named Co-Swimmer of the Meet. Following the championships, a program-record 12 swimmers and four relays earned All-Mountain West Conference honors. 

For the fourth straight season and second under Whitaker, multiple Cougars earned trips to the NCAA Championships where senior Emily Lundgren and Revitt became the first set of Cougar teammates to earn All-America honors in the same season.  

Lundgren and Revitt both earned All-America second-team honors at the 2026 NCAA Championships after Lundgren finished No. 15 in the 200 Breast while Revitt finished No. 16 in the 100 Free. 

This past season, the Cougars set 47 WSU Top-10 times, set 16 school records and nine Gibb Pool records. 

Prior to being named the head coach in May 2024, Whitaker worked seven seasons as the Cougars Director of Operations and later became an assistant coach for the 2023-24 season.