Maddox Tidwell enters his second season as the Assistant Swimming and Diving Coach in the 2026-27 season.
In his first season, Tidwell guided a Red Wave men's program that captured their 12th NSISC Championship title in program history. Tidwell aided Colin Candebat in breaking the 200-yard Individual Medley record, as Candebat secured a NCAA championship berth with a 1:46.74. Tidwell assisted in two more NCAA berths, as Avery Henke qualified with a win at the NSISC championships in the 100-yard Backstroke, and Emma Crowe qualified with a third-place finish in the 200-yard Backstroke.
While new to the Assistant role, Tidwell is not new to coaching at Henderson State. Over the last three years, he served as a volunteer coach, including helping coach the 2023-24 Red Wave men's program that won the NSISC Championship, the first since 2004-05.
Tidwell was instrumental in aiding several record-breaking performances, including the recent record-breaking performance by Nojus Skirutis, who set the new 200-yard Butterfly (1:46.33) record at the 2025 NCAA Nationals.
Tidwell also helped coach the 2024 NSISC Female Performer of the Year Kiara Pozvai. Under Tidwell's guidance, Pozvai shattered multiple records at Henderson, including, but not limited to, the 50-yard Freestyle (22.33), 100-yard Freestyle (48.82), 100-yard backstroke (54.17), and several relays. Pozvai was also the National Champion in the 100-yard Freestyle that year.
Tidwell's crowning achievement however, was his role in the 200-yard Freestyle relay team that shattered the Division II National record. Lamar Taylor, Jack Armstrong, Jase Pinckney, and Patryk Dabrowski set the record at the 2024 NCAA Nationals, finishing with a time of 1:16.50, breaking the previous record of 1:16.90.
Outside of coaching, Tidwell as an accomplished swimmer, competing for 12 years. Tidwell swam for The Woodlands club swim team, and for the Reddies during the 2021-22 season.
Tidwell graduated from Henderson in the spring of 2025.
