Dan Carrington completed his first year as associate head coach for Penn State swimming and diving during the 2022-23 season.
His leadership of the distance freestylers during the 2022-23 season propelled both men's and women's squads to a standout year. Eduardo Cisternas and Catherine Meisner climbed the record books in multiple events, earning B1G Freshman of the Week honors. Cisternas set a new Nittany Lion record in the 1000 (8:56.63) while becoming the third-fastest swimmer ever in the 1650 (15:07.14) and 500 (4:18.50) and the seventh-quickest in the 200 (1:36.23). Meisner claimed the fourth-fastest 200 (1:45.95) and the ninth-quickest 100 (49.68) times in program history. Both athletes continued to excel during the 2023 post-season, advancing to finals at the Big Ten Championships.
Carrington came to Penn State after serving as an assistant coach for six seasons at Florida State. During his tenure, the men were ranked in the final poll of every season (No. 21-2021-22, No. 16-2020-21, No. 14-2019-20, No. 22-2018-19, No. 20-2017-18 and No. 21-2016-17) with the women ranked No. 25-2020-21 and receiving votes several other years.
Carrington primarily coached the distance group and instructed with a big focus on technique, which includes the use of video feedback and personalization of stroke for each swimmer. In total, he helped the school produce six All-Americans, six ACC gold medals and 25 ACC podium performances.
Serving as the recruiting coordinator, FSU consistently secured top recruiting classes, including the eighth-ranked women's class according to swimswam.com for the 2018-19 season.
Carrington was as an assistant coach for Miami (Ohio) University the previous two seasons, following a second stint at Duke.
While at Duke, Carrington helped 12 swimmers achieve All-ACC status from 2011-2014, in addition to qualifying athletes for the NCAA Championships. Under his guide, the 2013-14 women's team became the first NCAA automatically qualified relay (200 Medley Relay) in school history.
Carrington also served as the head coach at Southwestern University from 2009-11 in Georgetown Texas, where he helped produce the first SCAC champion in two seasons and first NCAA automatic qualifier and All-American in school history.
In 2011, Carrington earned the ASCA Award of Excellence, which is an honor that recognizes those coaches who coach a swimmer to a top-eight finish at one or several USA national championships.
His first stint at Duke came in 2007-08 season, which was his first collegiate job.
In addition, Carrington served as the site director and coach at the Durham YMCA and was an assistant and age group coach for Delaware Community Schools and Yorktown High School.
Carrington earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Ball State in 2002. In addition to his coaching experience, he served as an Associate at Biogen Idec from 2013-2014 and was a QC Chemist for Eisai from 2011-2013.
Carrington and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Grace and Liana.
His leadership of the distance freestylers during the 2022-23 season propelled both men's and women's squads to a standout year. Eduardo Cisternas and Catherine Meisner climbed the record books in multiple events, earning B1G Freshman of the Week honors. Cisternas set a new Nittany Lion record in the 1000 (8:56.63) while becoming the third-fastest swimmer ever in the 1650 (15:07.14) and 500 (4:18.50) and the seventh-quickest in the 200 (1:36.23). Meisner claimed the fourth-fastest 200 (1:45.95) and the ninth-quickest 100 (49.68) times in program history. Both athletes continued to excel during the 2023 post-season, advancing to finals at the Big Ten Championships.
Carrington came to Penn State after serving as an assistant coach for six seasons at Florida State. During his tenure, the men were ranked in the final poll of every season (No. 21-2021-22, No. 16-2020-21, No. 14-2019-20, No. 22-2018-19, No. 20-2017-18 and No. 21-2016-17) with the women ranked No. 25-2020-21 and receiving votes several other years.
Carrington primarily coached the distance group and instructed with a big focus on technique, which includes the use of video feedback and personalization of stroke for each swimmer. In total, he helped the school produce six All-Americans, six ACC gold medals and 25 ACC podium performances.
Serving as the recruiting coordinator, FSU consistently secured top recruiting classes, including the eighth-ranked women's class according to swimswam.com for the 2018-19 season.
Carrington was as an assistant coach for Miami (Ohio) University the previous two seasons, following a second stint at Duke.
While at Duke, Carrington helped 12 swimmers achieve All-ACC status from 2011-2014, in addition to qualifying athletes for the NCAA Championships. Under his guide, the 2013-14 women's team became the first NCAA automatically qualified relay (200 Medley Relay) in school history.
Carrington also served as the head coach at Southwestern University from 2009-11 in Georgetown Texas, where he helped produce the first SCAC champion in two seasons and first NCAA automatic qualifier and All-American in school history.
In 2011, Carrington earned the ASCA Award of Excellence, which is an honor that recognizes those coaches who coach a swimmer to a top-eight finish at one or several USA national championships.
His first stint at Duke came in 2007-08 season, which was his first collegiate job.
In addition, Carrington served as the site director and coach at the Durham YMCA and was an assistant and age group coach for Delaware Community Schools and Yorktown High School.
Carrington earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Ball State in 2002. In addition to his coaching experience, he served as an Associate at Biogen Idec from 2013-2014 and was a QC Chemist for Eisai from 2011-2013.
Carrington and his wife, Kim, have two daughters, Grace and Liana.