As the Augustana swimming and diving season approaches, they are incorporating a past olympian coach as their leader, Dan Lloyd.
At the end of last year, the men had a 6-1 dual meet record and finished fourth at the CCIW conference meet, and the women had the same 6-1 dual meet record finishing fourth in the CCIW conference meet.  The men’s team broke six individual records and two relay records, and the women set 10 individual and five relay records. Both teams along with coach Lloyd are hopping to continue their success into this year.
Coach Lloyd is very familiar with the CCIW conference as he swam at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill.  While there, he was a five time All-American, and a CCIW swimmer of the year in 2000, thus later was inducted into the Millikin Athletics Hall of Fame.
After his collegiate career, Lloyd came back to coach in the CCIW  as an assistant coach at Wheaton College in 2009.  While at Wheaton, Lloyd helped lead the women’s swim team to four CCIW conference championships and a top ten finish in the nation in 2013.
Not only has he been an assistant coach, but Lloyd took his first head coaching position at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. Lloyd also gained Olympic experience when he coached with Club Wolverine at the University of Michigan.  During this time Lloyd got to work with six Olympians, one of which was Michael Phelps.
Lloyd feels very optimistic about the Augustana swim team.
“This is the best team that I have ever worked with.” said Lloyd.
Lloyd believes the transition to Augustana was extremely easy because the athletes and the school have been very accommodating to him. He also knows that all of the swimmers have been working very hard to show him what kind of team he is now coaching.
Lloyd has a very specific coaching style, and he never creates two practices the same.  The team so far has adapted well to his new style, and Lloyd wants to keep pushing them.
“The quality that I like most about this coach is his ability to change up the practices, always brining new workouts to keep it very fresh and interesting,” said junior swimmer Austin Small.
For the beginning of the season, Lloyd already has goals in place for his team.
“I expect to break even more records, including the ones set by swimmers still on the team,” said Lloyd. “My big goal for the season and the future is to set new traditions that will show what Augustana swimming is all about.”
These goals can be attained with the right work ethic and listening to the coach’s new preseason workouts.
“I highly appreciate the coaches new style compared to last season,” said senior swimmer Michael Duy. “Last years coach Scott Johannsen had a sprint based workout for the team, but the diversity that coach Lloyd brings to practice this year is a nice change of pace. I think he will do well here, and he brings a lot to the table with all his previous experience.”
Junior swimmer David Sommers has similar feelings toward his new coach.
“This diversity is helping us to improve through technical skills,” said Sommers, who set four records last season. “These skills come from his love for the sport, and that love is inspiring to the swimmers.”
Both Duy and Sommers agree with the coaches goals for the season.  The duo would love to see a new tradition of Augustana swimming brought to the college.
Coach Lloyd and his new team prepare to start their season at the Illinois Wesleyan Halloween Invitational on Oct. 25.