Head Swim Coach Chris Hamstra
The nationwide search that was conducted by Alma College to find a new leader of the Swimming & Diving Program ended in the hiring of Chris Hamstra, Hope College alumnus and former Calvin College assistant coach. Hamstra begins his first season with the Scots for the 2007-08 season.
Coach Hamstra graduated from Hope College in 2004 with a B.A. in Accounting. During his time at Hope, Hamstra was a four year student-athlete, received All-MIAA honors and was also named to the All-American team. Hamstra was also a member of MIAA Championship teams and brings that winning attitude and work ethic to his new position.
After graduation, Hamstra served as an assistant coach for Hope’s
Swimming & Diving Program under Dr. John Patnott. Hamstra credits
Dr. Patnott with helping him to understand the science of swimming and
also the importance of season long work out plans. “As an assistant in
his program, I was given the freedom to implement my own workouts into
the system, providing me with insight into what it takes to develop
season long plans.”
While at Calvin College under Coach Dan Gelderloos, Hamstra was given a
major leadership role in the program, including serving as a
counselor/mentor for the student athletes on the team. Hamstra learned
how important it is to support his athletes in all aspects of their
lives. “Coach Gelderloos stressed that as a coach, one of the most
important roles is to prepare the team for life after school...this
concept is one that I feel is very important and wish to continue at
Alma College.”
Over the summer, Coach Hamstra served as a USA Club Coach for the JAWS
swim club in Grandville. In this role, Hamstra got a taste of what it
is like to be a head coach and enjoyed the challenge. “While coaching
for JAWS, I had a chance to really spread my wings. I wrote almost all
the workouts and put a season plan of my own to work,” commented Coach
Hamstra on the experience.
After five years at Hope College, one at Calvin, and a summer working
for JAWS, Alma College is pleased to welcome Chris Hamstra to the
Athletic Department Staff. His championship experience, coaching
pedigree, and passion for the sport will help to usher in a new era in
Alma College Swimming & Diving.
Director of Athletics, John Leister, believes that the Hamstra hire paired with the hiring of first year Diving Coach Channing Kimball gives the Scots one of the best young Swimming & Diving coaching staffs in the MIAA. “We are very excited about both of our new coaches in this program. They are both great people and we look forward to the positive effects they will have on our student-athletes both in the pool and in every other aspect of their college experience, as they all work together to get the AC Swimming & Diving Program back on track.”
