Augustana is pleased to announce the hiring of Dan Lloyd as the new head coach of its men’s and women’s swimming programs. He succeeds Scott Johannsen, who served as the Vikings’ head coach for the last six years. Lloyd comes to Augustana after leading the men’s and women’s programs at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas.
No stranger to the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin, Lloyd enjoyed a stellar swimming career at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. As a member of the Big Blue, he was a four-time team MVP, a five-time All-America performer and the CCIW’s Swimmer of the Year in 2000. He was Millikin’s Lindsey Medallion Athlete of the Year in 2002 and in 2011, Lloyd’s alma mater inducted him into its Athletics Hall of Fame.
Lloyd’s ties to the CCIW go further than his own collegiate career. He was an assistant coach at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois for four years prior to taking the head coaching position at Hendrix in 2013. While with the Thunder, he helped lead the women to four straight conference championships and a top ten national finish in 2013. He helped mentor Kirsty Nitz, a three-time national champion in 2013, who set a national record in the 50 freestyle. The Wheaton men also captured a CCIW title in Lloyd’s final season there. In addition to his work with the Thunder swimming programs, he was also an assistant coach for Wheaton’s women’s varsity water polo team and the head coach of the men’s club team.
In 2007-08, Lloyd was named Midwest Conference Women’s Coach of the Year while serving as interim head coach at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. He was also the head swimming coach at Normal West High School in Normal, Illinois for two years.
“Dan’s knowledge base and passion for swimming was evident during the interview process, and I look forward to working with him to further improve the Augustana program,” said Augustana Director of Athletics Mike Zapolski. “Because of Dan’s own collegiate experience and previous coaching assignments, he has a thorough understanding of NCAA Division III and the importance of developing well-rounded student-athletes. His strong recruiting connections in the Midwest will be helpful in our efforts to promote and support a highly competitive program.”
Lloyd’s other coaching endeavors include working with coaches Dave Durden, Nort Thornton and Nick Folker at the University of California in Berkeley California; running the Josh Davis Ultimate Swim Camp with five-time Olympic medalist Josh Davis; working the Total Performance and Collegeswimming.com swim camps and serving as Clinic Coordinator at the University of Michigan Swim Camp. Lloyd coached with Club Wolverine and the University of Michigan where he worked with six Olympians, including Michael Phelps while under legendary distance coach Jon Urbanchek. He was also a clinic coach at the elite level at the United States Naval Academy Water Polo Camp in 2009.
In addition to his coaching career, Lloyd has worked as a web developer and graphic designer in both the public and private sectors, including stints with United States Congressmen J.C. Watts and Bob Ney.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to be the next head swim coach at Augustana College,” said Lloyd. “I was extremely impressed with our outstanding student-athletes and their passion for our program. They take great pride in representing Augustana both in and out of the pool. We both share the same vision and excitement for where the program is headed and that excitement will be seen in everything we do.”
College Swimming News courtesy of Augustana College Swimming.
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