Great Lakes Wire

Head coach Heidi Voigt and the Northern Michigan University (NMU) swim and dive team have announced staff changes ahead of the 2025/26 season. Christopher Kelly has been promoted, while Lance Bergmann has been hired.

Kelly, who joined NMU as a diving coach in August 2022, has had a successful tenure with several accomplishments under his guidance. "I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue working with the amazing swim and dive community at NMU," said Kelly. He aims to build the diving community in the upper peninsula and elevate NMU Diving to new heights.

Kelly was a diver at Grand Valley State from 2017-2021, earning accolades such as GLIAC Diver of the Year for three consecutive years and multiple NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships appearances. Head coach Voigt expressed her excitement about Kelly's promotion: "He is a great fit for our team and Northern Michigan University."

Lance Bergmann joins NMU from Illinois College, where he served as an assistant coach since the 2023/24 season. "I'm incredibly thankful to Coach Voigt for giving me an opportunity to work with such a successful program," stated Bergmann.

Bergmann previously coached at Eastern Illinois University as a volunteer before joining Illinois College. He also coached with Bloomington-Normal YMCA Waves swim club, focusing on restructuring their dryland program.

Voigt welcomed Bergmann's addition: "He will make a great addition to our coaching team." The Wildcats' season opens with an intra-squad scrimmage on September 19-20 before facing St. Cloud and Davenport on October 3-4.