UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- Penn State Swimming and Diving head coach Hollie Bonewit-Cron announces the addition of Sean Schimmel as associate head coach of the program. Schimmel arrives in Happy Valley with decades of experience including that in the Big Ten Conference. The long-time coach enjoyed collegiate stints at Miami University, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, Louisiana State University and University of Georgia. He also served as the associate head coach for ABSC Pro Dawgs and was the Team USA Lead Coach for the 2019 FINA Champions Series in Budapest, Hungary.
"Sean has a wealth of experience and knowledge at both the NCAA and international levels and I am thrilled he will be a part of the Nittany Lion family," said Bonewit-Cron. "I'm excited to continue working with him and to bring his enthusiasm and expertise to Penn State as we look towards a successful future."
Most recently, Schimmel spent the previous season coaching with Bonewit-Cron at the University of Miami (OH), where he served as an assistant coach. He helped lead the men's team to their fifth MAC Championship in the last six years and guided the women's squad to a second-place finish at conference championships this year. In his time with the RedHawks he coached Nicole Maier, a two-time All-American including her most recent this season.
Before his time at Miami (OH), Schimmel was the associate head coach of Athens Bulldog Swim Club (ABSC Pro Dawgs) from 2016-22. While working with the Pro Dawgs, Schimmel also served as the volunteer assistant coach for the University of Georgia. In his time with the Bulldogs, he helped six individuals qualify for the 2020 U.S. Olympic team. Five of the six athletes earned medals while representing the United States. During his time in Georgia, he worked for Cali Conders, a professional swim club, from 2020-22 and was a Team USA Lead Coach for the 2019 Fina Champions Series in Budapest.
Prior to his time in Athens, Schimmel served as the head women's swimming and diving coach for the University of Arkansas from 2012-16. Schimmel guided 13 All-American performances and 57 honorable mention All-Americans. With Schimmel at the helm, the Razorbacks finished 26th in the country in 2013 and 44th in the nation in 2015. His student-athletes compiled a 3.54 cumulative GPA throughout his time at Arkansas.
Schimmel's first head coaching job was at a fellow Big Ten school, the University of Maryland, where he served as the head men's and women's swimming and diving coach from 2008-12. He saw large success during his time in College Park, with two top-25 team finishes, no. 25 in 2010 and no. 22 in 2011. His women's squad set 56 school records and 25 on the men's side throughout his four years leading the program. His student-athletes secured four All-American honors and 20 honorable mention nods.
Schimmel's first power five stop in the world of collegiate swimming was at LSU, where he served as te associate head coach for the Tiger's men's nad women's teams from 2006-08.
His first coaching job in the collegiate world was a stop at Harvard, where he began his career as an assistant coach of the men's team from 1999-2006.
The experienced coach swam for the University of Southern California. During his time in college, he participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1988 in the 100 and 200 fly. Schimmel earned his degree in communications from USC in 1992.
