Bowling Green State University Athletics
Women's Swimming & Diving
Michael Retcher
- Title:
- Diving Coach
- Email:
- mretche@bgsu.edu
Michael Retcher enters his fifth season with the Bowling Green swimming and diving program and has helped establish the Falcons as a consistent presence on the conference and national diving scene.
Retcher joined the BGSU staff in 2022 after spending 13 seasons as the head diving coach at Napoleon High School and the Napoleon Diving Club. During his time at Napoleon, 43 student-athletes qualified for the OHSAA State Diving Championships, with 17 finishing in the top 10. He also guided eight divers to NCAA Division I programs and helped 27 Napoleon Diving Club athletes qualify for AAU Nationals, with 12 finishing in the top 12.
Since arriving at Bowling Green, Retcher has continued to build a strong diving tradition while developing a group that has consistently competed at the NCAA Zone level. The Falcons sent four divers to NCAA Zone Diving in each of Retcher’s first two seasons, and in 2025, Natalia Mayorga became the first diver in program history to reach the finals of the NCAA Zone platform competition. Mayorga finished 17th in the platform final, while also placing 24th in the 3-meter event.
Retcher was retained when Tanner Barton was named BGSU’s head coach in 2024, providing continuity as the program entered a new era. Under Barton and Retcher, the Falcons have continued to build on the boards, with Retcher working with a young group that has produced NCAA Zone qualifiers and MAC finalists.
The 2025-26 season produced a significant milestone for Retcher and the Falcons. Mayorga became BGSU’s first MAC champion since 2022 when she won the 3-meter title with a score of 316.85 at the MAC Championships. She earned first-team All-MAC honors and advanced to NCAA Zone C Diving for the third consecutive season.
In addition to his work at BGSU, Retcher has developed an extensive background in diving administration and event management. He currently serves as USA Diving’s director of events and strategic initiatives, where he works on national events and organizational initiatives. He previously served as an AAU National Event Coordinator, running three national qualifying events and overseeing yearly national meets. Retcher also was selected by USA Diving to serve as meet director for the 2022 USA Senior Winter National Championships.
Retcher has also served as president of the Ohio Diving League and as an assistant athletic director at Napoleon High School. He was the head coach of the BGSU Club Water Polo team in 2021-22 and has served as an assistant coach with the Napoleon Water Polo program since 2009.
A 2009 graduate of Napoleon High School, Retcher earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University in 2023. He is certified as a USA Diving Competition Coach, an AAU Diving Youth Coach and a lifeguard instructor. Before joining the BGSU staff, he also spent seven summers as the assistant waterfront director and kitchen manager at Camp Walden in Cheboygan, Michigan.
Retcher joined the BGSU staff in 2022 after spending 13 seasons as the head diving coach at Napoleon High School and the Napoleon Diving Club. During his time at Napoleon, 43 student-athletes qualified for the OHSAA State Diving Championships, with 17 finishing in the top 10. He also guided eight divers to NCAA Division I programs and helped 27 Napoleon Diving Club athletes qualify for AAU Nationals, with 12 finishing in the top 12.
Since arriving at Bowling Green, Retcher has continued to build a strong diving tradition while developing a group that has consistently competed at the NCAA Zone level. The Falcons sent four divers to NCAA Zone Diving in each of Retcher’s first two seasons, and in 2025, Natalia Mayorga became the first diver in program history to reach the finals of the NCAA Zone platform competition. Mayorga finished 17th in the platform final, while also placing 24th in the 3-meter event.
Retcher was retained when Tanner Barton was named BGSU’s head coach in 2024, providing continuity as the program entered a new era. Under Barton and Retcher, the Falcons have continued to build on the boards, with Retcher working with a young group that has produced NCAA Zone qualifiers and MAC finalists.
The 2025-26 season produced a significant milestone for Retcher and the Falcons. Mayorga became BGSU’s first MAC champion since 2022 when she won the 3-meter title with a score of 316.85 at the MAC Championships. She earned first-team All-MAC honors and advanced to NCAA Zone C Diving for the third consecutive season.
In addition to his work at BGSU, Retcher has developed an extensive background in diving administration and event management. He currently serves as USA Diving’s director of events and strategic initiatives, where he works on national events and organizational initiatives. He previously served as an AAU National Event Coordinator, running three national qualifying events and overseeing yearly national meets. Retcher also was selected by USA Diving to serve as meet director for the 2022 USA Senior Winter National Championships.
Retcher has also served as president of the Ohio Diving League and as an assistant athletic director at Napoleon High School. He was the head coach of the BGSU Club Water Polo team in 2021-22 and has served as an assistant coach with the Napoleon Water Polo program since 2009.
A 2009 graduate of Napoleon High School, Retcher earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University in 2023. He is certified as a USA Diving Competition Coach, an AAU Diving Youth Coach and a lifeguard instructor. Before joining the BGSU staff, he also spent seven summers as the assistant waterfront director and kitchen manager at Camp Walden in Cheboygan, Michigan.
Thursday, July 23
Monday, July 20
Saturday, July 18
Wednesday, July 01
