Penn State Hires Division II Champ Jackson Lustig as Assistant Coach
Penn State on Wednesday announced the hiring of Jackson Lustig as an assistant coach for the swimming and diving staff.
Lustig was a standout at McKendree University, where he won NCAA Division II titles in the 100 butterfly and 200 fly in 2025. He was a three-time NCAA champ in the 200 fly, setting an NCAA record of 1:40.75 in 2023. He helped the McKendree 400 medley relay break the NCAA record in 2024, part of consecutive D2 titles in that event.
Lustig served as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater in 2025-26. He worked with the mid-distance group, helping Volodymyr Gavrysh win a national title and set an NCAA record in the men’s 200 freestyle at NCAAs. The Bearcats men’s team finished sixth at NCAAs last year, while the women were 20th.
Lustig also qualified for U.S. Olympic Trials in 2024 in the 200 fly.
He was a nine-time Great Lakes Valley Conference champion, a two-year team captain of the Bearcats and a first-team CSCAA All-American in 2023-24. Lustig is a native of Milwaukee. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communication and was working toward a master’s degree in performance psychology and leadership.
Penn State has overhauled its coaching staff this offseason under Hollie Bonewit-Cron, who is about to enter her third season as the head coach. Mike Smiechowski was hired as associate head coach, and Samantha Pickens was added as head diving coach.
