Director of Athletics Dick Jaeger recently named Christopher Hamilton the new diving coach, the Athletics Department announced.
Hamilton will coach both the women's and men's diving teams. He has 12 years of experience in coaching and has worked with many Olympic hopefuls and qualifiers.
The previous diving coach, who worked at Dartmouth for 37 years, retired this past June.
"He's got big shoes to fill," men's swimming Coach Jim Wilson said. "He appreciates the traditions of Dartmouth and he's already been moving right into stuff."
Wilson said Hamilton knows the New England area, and the knowledge will help him become accustomed to the College.
Originally from Maine, Hamilton earned Class A state champion in diving for three years from 1985 to 1987 while in high school.
In college at Southern Connecticut State University, he was an Division II All-American five times and the national champion in the one-meter board event in the 1992-93 season. Hamilton graduated in 1995 and later went to the University of New Haven to earn his master of science degree in education in 1998.
Hamilton began his coaching career at Yale University, where he assisted with the United States Diving Program. He worked there from 1991 to 1993 and then went to Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn., where he served as volunteer assistant swim coach and the head diving coach.
Next, Hamilton coached at Foran High School in Milford, Conn. from 1993 to 1996. In 1994, he was named CCAIC diving coach of the year, and in 1995, he was named swimming coach of the year. During his tenure, five swimmers at Foran were named All-Americans.
He was head girls diving coach at Wilton High School in Connecticut during 1997 and also served as the assistant diving coach at his alma mater during that time. Hamilton also taught physical education in both Florida and Connecticut and been director of aquatics.
Just before coming to Dartmouth, Hamilton spent two years coaching in Florida. He coached junior and senior Olympic qualifiers in Temple Terrace, Fla., as a head diving, masters swim and assistant swim coach.
His most recent position was as assistant diving coach at the Brandon, Fla. Swim and Tennis Club. He also helped the United States diving team and summer camp divers.
"Everyone is excited about Chris joining our staff. He has an outstanding background in both collegiate and club diving, and one of his athletes recently won the three-meter junior national championship," women's swimming Coach Joann Brislin said. "He brings a lot of energy and creativity to Dartmouth, and we're looking forward to working with him."
