Danielle Lindner - Head Coach

Contact: danielle.lindner@allegheny.edu
814-332-2808

A new era began for Allegheny College swimming and diving on July 2 when Danielle Lindner assumed leadership of the program, becoming just the second coach of the women’s team in program history and the second men’s coach in 31 years. Lindner took over for long-time coach Tom Erdos, the 2007 North Coast Athletic Conference Women’s Coach of the Year, who resigned to take a position in Allegheny’s Department of Dance.

Lindner, a two-time State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) champion and two-time East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) champion in the 200-yard backstroke at SUNY-New Paltz, comes to Allegheny after spending two seasons as assistant coach at her alma mater, where she helped her swimmers meet four individual NCAA “B” Cuts, three individual NCAA “A” Cuts, two relay NCAA “B” Cuts, win six SUNYAC individual titles and two relay titles, and earn five individual and three relay All-American honors. She also helped Michelle Coombs to the 2007 Individual National Championship in the 100 freestyle, the first woman National Champion in school and Conference history.

A native of Wantagh, N.Y., Lindner graduated in 2005 with a degree in history and communication. At age 24 she will be one of the youngest head coaches in Division III, but she understands that learning about the sport does not happen because you are young and does not stop because you have experience. “I believe that no matter what year of coaching you are in, there is always something new you will learn,” she said. “It is important to constantly find out as much as possible about your student-athletes and the sport that you’re coaching in order to continue to grow as a coach and to help your athletes reach their fullest potential.”

Helping to guide and mentor the new coach is Director of Athletics and Recreation Betsy Mitchell, who is no stranger to the swimming and diving scene. In 1984 Mitchell won the Olympic silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke, while also helping the 400 medley relay team to the gold medal at the Los Angeles Summer Games. Four years later she helped lead the 400 medley relay team to a medal, this time grabbing the silver at the Olympics in Seoul, Korea. The former world record holder in the 200 backstroke, Mitchell also has coaching experience, as she led the Dartmouth College swimming program to its first winning season in nine years.

“The primary role I will play will be in mentoring her as a young professional – helping with the administrative and management aspects,” said Mitchell. “Danielle knows her training programs and has great resources in that regard. I don’t think we will talk yards, sets and strokes. It will be mostly mentoring her on the professional aspects rather than in the pool or recruiting. Those were really two of the strengths for her that rose to the top.”

“It’s an honor to be able to work under Betsy Mitchell,” said Lindner. “I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for an athletics director who was a tremendously successful swimmer and who truly understands the sport. She will be a great resource for me.”

The cupboard is hardly bare for the new head coach as the team returns 17 men and 17 women from a strong season a year ago, including All-American Erin Ham and All-Conference swimmer Carolyn Nairn and divers Jayson Loeffert and Glenna Kramer. Lindner will use her experiences, both as an athlete and a coach, to continue the program’s strong tradition of excellence. “As a former student-athlete, I was part of a well-rounded program that taught me commitment, leadership, teamwork, dedication and hard work,” said Lindner. “We were part not just of a team – but of a family. In my transition into the role of coach, one of the most important things I’ve learned is that it is just as important to focus on the details of a race as it is the training – doing the little things right is what wins races.”

Mitchell echoes Lindner’s enthusiasm. “I’m looking forward to working with Danielle and I think she has a bright future,” said Mitchell. “Her energy, enthusiasm and communication skills are exactly what the team needs.”

The Allegheny swimming & diving program has had immense success, as 76 men and 54 women have earned All-America honors since 1977, with seven individual NCAA titles. The men’s team has finished top-10 in the nation 13 times, while the women have been equally impressive with 10 top-10 showings. “I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the Allegheny College community,” added Lindner. “The swimming & diving program has a strong history of success that I wish to continue and build on, and I am looking forward to my first season with the team.”

Carter Crosby - Assistant Coach

Contact: carter.crosby@allegheny.edu
814-332-3309

Carter Crosby is in his second season as an assistant coach at Allegheny College.

Crosby was a four-time letterwinner with Columbia University from 2002 to 2006, specializing in the sprint, freestyle, and backstroke. During his senior year he served as a co-captain.

Since 2000, Crosby has worked as a swim instructor at a variety of camps and organizations. He worked the University of Southern California Schubert Swim Camp as an assistant coach and counselor during the summer of 2006 and the Learn To Swim Summer Program at Allegheny in 2007.

A native of Tampa, Florida, Crosby graduated in 2006 with a degree in history from Columbia University.

Fred Evanoff - Diving Coach

Fred Evanoff enters his second season as the Allegheny diving coach.

Evanoff came to Allegheny following successful stints in the high school ranks. Since 2000, he has served as the head diving coach at both General McLane High School and Fairview Recreation Authority, including helping initiate the program in the former. Evanoff, who was also an assistant swim coach at General McLane and the head coach at Fairview, has seen his swimmers and divers compete regularly for district and state championships over the last six years.

A resident of McKean, Pennsylvania, Evanoff is the owner of Evanoff Landscape Contracting and graduated from Penn State University in 1973 with an associate degree in ornamental nursey management.