Michael MacDonald recently completed his third year as the head coach of the men’s and women’s squash programs at Connecticut College.
MacDonald’s teams matched the competitive successes of their previous campaign with him coaching during the 2019-20 academic year, using depth throughout the lineup as a cornerstone to success. The women captured their second straight Epps Cup by earning a 5-4 victory over St. Lawrence in the championship match at CSA Nationals. Mikayla Waterhouse, winner of the Ann Wetzel Award for being a senior who began playing in college, rallied from behind to win the decisive match against the Saints in the final match. The men, led by the senior captains, finished with a No. 27 national ranking for the second consecutive year, ending the season in a thrilling 5-4 decision over Chatham.
In MacDonald’s second year, the women put together their best season in program history by winning the Epps Cup for the first time. They defeated William Smith, the defending champs, by a 6-3 margin to finish the winter ranked 25th in the country. The men also ended on a high note, improving their national ranking from the previous season by three spots to complete their campaign with a No. 27 national ranking.
In his first year on the sidelines, MacDonald led the men’s and women’s squash teams to improved competitive success. The men recorded 12 victories, which included winning seven of their eight matches over a three-week stretch, registered an impressive 4-1 record in matches decided just a single individual match. The women finished the season with 10 wins after beginning the year with a historic triumph over No. 16 Bates. The women’s team was victorious in three of its final four matches in February to end the season on a high note and a couple spots higher in the national rankings.
Prior to his arrival at Connecticut College, MacDonald was an integral contributor to the Chicago-area squash community. Along with his role as an assistant squash professional at the University Club of Chicago beginning in 2012, he acted as an assistant tournament director for the Windy City Open, now the world’s largest professional squash tournament. Before that, he served as the squash director at MetroSquash, Chicago’s urban squash program that serves over 150 students each year.
In 2016, MacDonald was the head squash coach at Beacon Academy and helped it quickly gain popularity. The following year, he spearheaded the foundation of the Chicagoland Squash Conference for Chicago-area high school squash programs and acted as its league administrator. MacDonald also served as the squash professional at the East Bank Club and provided tailored
instruction to its members. His diverse coaching history also includes volunteering with the club team at the University of Chicago and directing the Squash ACES programs at Franklin & Marshall to benefit underserved students from local public schools in the Lancaster area.
MacDonald played on the squash team at Denison University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies in 2009. He earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern in 2016.
