Schinnerer Tabbed to Lead Bucknell Program

LEWISBURG, Pennsylvania, August 15. DAN Schinnerer, a Yale graduate and most recently an assistant coach with Michigan's nationally ranked men's swimming team, has been named head men's and women's swimming and diving coach at Bucknell, director of athletics and recreation John Hardt announced.

Schinnerer had been associated with the vaunted Michigan program since 2003, first as a volunteer assistant and then as a full-time assistant coach beginning in July 2004. Over the last three seasons the Wolverines finished fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively, at the NCAA Championships, and in each of the last two years they produced two NCAA individual champions.

Schinnerer, who served as the team's recruiting coordinator and budget administrator, designed and implemented the training program for the sprint and breaststroke group. He was able to work with Olympic caliber swimmers, including Michigan student assistant coach Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals and eight total medals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Four Michigan swimmers competed on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. The Wolverines placed five swimmers with Michigan ties on the 2005 USA World Championship Team, and this summer the Club Wolverine squad swept the men's, women's and combined titles at the national championships.

At Michigan Schinnerer apprenticed under a pair of legendary head coaches in Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman. Urbanchek, an American Swimming Coaches Association Hall of Famer, won a national championship and 13 Big Ten titles in 22 years at Michigan, and he coached in every Olympic Games from 1984 through 2000. He sent 28 of his Wolverine swimmers to the Olympics, and eight of those athletes combined to win 15 medals. Bowman took over the program in April 2004 after a successful nine-year stint at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where Phelps was one of his prize pupils. For his accomplishments with North Baltimore, Bowman won the USA Swimming and the American Swimming Coaches Association Coach of the Year Awards in 2001 and 2003. He was also named the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year in 2002.

"Dan Schinnerer brings outstanding credentials to the Bison swimming and diving program," said Hardt. "He has been associated with nothing but outstanding academic institutions throughout his competitive and coaching career, and he has helped train successful swimmers at all levels, including a number of Olympians, national champions and All-Americans. Dan has displayed enthusiastic leadership throughout his career, and we are looking forward to watching him instill that passion in our Bison student-athletes."

Schinnerer was also heavily involved in Michigan's highly regarded summer swimming camp program, where he mentored both girls and boys aged 9-18. As assistant camp director and head coach of the intensive camp, he worked with many top young swimmers on stroke technique and training principles.

"I am both honored and eager to become part of the Bucknell community," said Schinnerer. "I believe Bucknell University provides the ideal setting for student-athletes to be able to achieve their athletic and academic potential. There is a strong tradition of success here, which will serve as a springboard to the future. I look forward to working with the young men and women of the Bucknell swimming and diving team as we strive to achieve our goals."

Schinnerer was a four-year swimming letterman at Yale, where he graduated in 2001 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. As a member of the Bulldogs swimming team, he was a Senior Nationals qualifier and was the recipient of the William Leeming Jellife Award for "greatest progress and development in swimming ability and outstanding leadership during his college years."

The Grand Rapids, Mich., native went on to teach history and serve as assistant swimming coach at The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J. He helped Peddie to an Eastern Interscholastic Prep School girls' title in 2002 and a boys' championship in 2003. The team produced a top-10 finish at the Northeastern Speedo Sectional Championships. Schinnerer coached multiple NISCA All-Americans, two U.S. Open qualifiers and one senior national qualifier at Peddie.

At Bucknell, Schinnerer takes over a storied Bison swimming and diving program that has excelled since moving into the state-of-the-art Kinney Natatorium in 2002-03. Bucknell's women have captured four straight Patriot League championships, while the Bison men won the title in 2003 and have finished second, fourth and third over the last three seasons. The Bucknell men won the 1964 NCAA College Division championship and have won 18 conference titles since 1960.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x