James Koval
James Koval
  • Title:
    Assistant Coach
  • Phone:
    412-268-6082
  • Email:
    jkoval@andrew.cmu.edu
  • Previous College:
    West Virginia University, '18
  • Bachelor's Degree:
    Chemical Engineering
  • Graduate School:
    West Virginia University, '20
  • Master's Degree:
    Chemical Engineering

Bio

James Koval, a Division I swimmer at West Virginia University, was hired as the full-time assistant coach for both men's and women's swimming and diving in August 2021. Koval previously served as a club coach for Seneca Valley Swim Club from June 2020 through August 2021.

In his first year on staff, Koval assisted with day-to-day operations and recruiting and mentored 11 men and four women to the NCAA Championships where all 15 competitors earned a top 16 finish and at least one All-America Honorable Mention award.

Koval's second season on deck resulted in an 11th-place finish for the men and a 15th-place finish for the women at the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships, as both teams finished in the top 15 for the first time. Six men earned All-America or All-America Second Team awards with all five relays placing in the top 16 for the first time since 2004 with two swimming in the evening's championship heat. Six women also earned All-America or All-America Second Team honors with three relays earning championship points for the first time in program history. 

Koval coached for more than four years at the youth level between swim clubs and high schools before coming to Carnegie Mellon. Koval was a distance freestyler and currently stands fourth in WVU history in the 1,000-yard and 1,650-yard events. Following his senior season, Koval was named the Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A 2018 graduate with a degree in chemical engineering, Koval also earned his master's degree in chemical engineering in 2020.

While working with swim clubs around the Pittsburgh area and in Morgantown, West Virginia, as well as Laurel Highlands High School, Koval has helped mentor 25 individual district qualifiers with seven school records with the Laurel Highlands girls placing third at the WPIAL Championships.