Courtesy: Lycoming Athletics
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – A Canadian Youth and Junior National Champion who competed at two Olympic Trials, Andrew Dragunas, Ph.D., has been named the 15th head swimming coach in the history of the Lycoming College swimming program, director of athletics Mike Clark announced on Thursday, Dec. 10.
“Throughout the interview process, we were impressed with Coach Dragunas’ vast knowledge of the sport of swimming,” Clark said. “His time as an elite junior swimmer in Canada as well as his time as a Division I swimmer at East Carolina University are impressive on their own. His work in swimming biomechanics is vast and will really give Lycoming swimmers a distinct edge as they work to improve throughout their careers. In the past five years, he has gotten a taste of Division III, and he has taken to heart the mantra: Discover, Develop, Dedicate. We are excited to see the development that the team will show under his tutelage.”
“I am extremely grateful and honored for this incredible opportunity to lead the Lycoming swimming program,” Dragunas said. “I would like to thank President Trachte, and Athletic Director Mike Clark, and the search committee for putting their trust in me to move the swimming program forward. I would also like to thank all of the coaches, swimmers and administrators who have been a part of my journey to Lycoming College. I am thrilled and ready to work with Lycoming’s dedicated swimmers to help them grow and develop to reach their full potential.”
At Vassar, Dragunas made a quick impact as an assistant coach, as he and head coach Lisl Prater-Lee and diving coach Mitchell Katz combined to win the Liberty League Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year award in 2020, as the Brewers finished fourth at both the men’s and women’s championships.
Dragunas arrived at Vassar following a three-year stint as the assistant swimming & diving coach at Oswego State University. With the Lakers, he helped both programs grow and become a dominant force in the SUNYAC. On the men’s side, Oswego went 25-5 during his tenure, going from fifth at the SUNYAC Championships to second in 2018. On the women’s side, he helped lead the Lakers to a 19-11 mark in dual meet action, rising from eighth to third at the championships.
Dragunas began his coaching career at the Pointe-Claire Swim Club in Quebec in 2005. Under his guidance, his swimmers reached the podium at regional, state, and National Age-Group Championship levels. Later, Dragunas studied swimming biomechanics at Western University and assisted Canadian Olympic Coach Paul Midgley with the university’s swim team. As an assistant coach and biomechanist with the university swimming team, Dragunas worked with the sprint program and their Canadian Junior and Senior national team members.
A native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Dragunas was the 200-meter butterfly champion at the 1997 Canadian Youth Championships (2:09.89, LCM) and the 2000 Canadian Junior National Championships (2:05.91, LCM). A four-year letterwinner at East Carolina University for legendary coach Rick Kobe, Dragunas set freshman and school records in the 200-yard butterfly (1:50.94) and was named the team’s Rookie of the Year in 2002. He also competed at Canadian Olympic Trials in 2000 and 2004.
Dragunas received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from East Carolina University in 2005. He completed a Master of Science in Kinesiology in 2009 and a Doctorate in 2015 with a thesis in swimming biomechanics, from Western University. Additionally, he has published several peer-reviewed publications focused on swimming technique and training. He and wife, Jenny, have a daughter, Skylar.
What they are saying about Coach Dragunas
“Andrew was a tremendous asset to Oswego State in the three years he spent here as an assistant coach. His rapport with the team and extensive knowledge base in training methodology and technology helped elevate our program to new heights. I am confident he will build a quality program at Lycoming, one which will engage the athletes in their training process and have them performing at their highest levels.”
– Mike Holman, Oswego State head swimming and diving coach
“Andrew Dragunas had a big impact on the Vassar swimming and diving program in a relatively short period of time. Andrew offered the swim/dive program many strengths that went well beyond on-deck coaching. We are excited that Andrew has this new opportunity as the head swimming coach at Lycoming and we look forward to the many successes that Andrew and the Lycoming swim program have in store.”
– Lisl Prater-Lee, Vassar College head swimming and diving coach
“When we worked together, it was clearly evident that Andrew was able to ‘merge’ the world of coaching with the world of biomechanics/performance analysis in an applied perspective and setting. It was very clear to me that Andrew could identify very specific nuances of a swimmer’s technique using his thorough knowledge of biomechanics, and, drawing on his experience as a high-level swimmer and coach himself, communicate that effectively with the swimmer and his/her coach to make those changes. Not only that, his scientific rigor allows the athletes he has worked with to very precisely and objectively see the pre- vs. post- intervention changes they have made based on his biomechanical and coaching feedback.
“It is rare that you see a head coach at any level of swimming with the requisite knowledge and academic training that Andrew possesses. I’m confident that he will take a cerebral approach to his coaching and training. Importantly, Andrew is a keen learner and collaborator, and I look forward to continuing to chat with him about the biomechanics and physiology of swimming.”
– Jared Fletcher, Ph.D., Canadian Para-Swim Team Physiologist
“At this point, I have been a swimmer for nine years and had near a dozen different coaches. For two of those nine years, I was blessed with having the most insightful, knowledgeable, supportive, and dedicated coach I have ever had. As an assistant coach, Andrew Dragunas was responsible for our team’s sprint group. His specific training regimen is the largest contributing factor to my swimming success. Even after his departure from our university, the head coach of my team still used his training practices. Every trade and occupation has masters of its craft. Andrew Dragunas is one of those masters, carefully and artfully crafting swimmer’s technique and ability in the pool.
“Andrew Dragunas has made a lasting impact on my life and many others he has come in contact with. We could not imagine our swim careers without Coach Dragon.”
– Walker Snowden, Oswego State school-record holder, 2020 SUNYAC Champion
“Coach Dragunas, or Coach Dragon as we called him, came into the program at Oswego State with a vast amount of knowledge and experience that he was able to pass down to us. Throughout the three years he was our coach, he was able to push us physically and mentally, while teaching us the proper techniques and skills to become better swimmers and members of the team. He helped me and my teammates reach our goals, from setting personal-best times to breaking SUNY Oswego swim records. Other than being a hard working coach, Coach Dragon was also a friendly coach. He always knew how to keep swimming fun while we were working hard with some games or other swimming activities. The swim team at Lycoming College has a tremendous opportunity with an amazing coach like Coach Dragunas, who has all of the tools to have a successful program.”
– Ryan Kreuser, Oswego State school-record holder
“In a short time, Andrew managed to make a large imprint on our team. It is not just his technical background that makes him a good coach, but his care for his swimmers that makes him a great one. He understands that being a coach is more than recording times, it is being the support system that every swimmer hopes to have as they’re anxiously waiting behind the block for their race. We will all miss his friendly presence on deck and know he will be an amazing head coach for Lycoming College.”
– Anghared Healey, Vassar College swimmer, 2020 Liberty League 500-yard freestyle runner-up
“While working alongside Dr. Dragunas throughout his Ph.D., it was clear that he was very passionate about swimming and the success of his swimmers. This passion drove him toward a Ph.D. in sport biomechanics where he investigated starts using a novel-instrumented start block. During his time at Western University, he conducted studies and worked directly with national and Olympic level athletes, which provided him a deep understanding of swimming biomechanics at an elite level. Combining his swimming and coaching experience with his research skills and knowledge, Dr. Dragunas coaches with an evidence-based approach to make directed decisions that improve athletic performance in the pool. As a result, the teams he is associated with often climb the ranks of their division, while his swimmers achieve personal bests.”
– Ryan Frayne, Instructor, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University
Yea but can he do the ice turkey dance??? Do we has ta call him Doctor or can we just call him Handy Andy? (His childhood nickname.”