Swimcloud
Dan Schinnerer

Dan Schinnerer

Head Coach

Dan Schinnerer, who was named the Patriot League Men’s Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2010 and the Women’s Coach of the Year in 2013, enters his twelfth season as the head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach at Bucknell in 2017-18. In his first eight seasons at the helm of the Bison, 18 school records fell on the men’s side (200 free, 500 free, 1,000 free, 1,650 free, 100 back, 200 back, 100 breast, 200 breast, 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM, three-meter diving and five relays) and the squad has captured 10 individual and one relay title at the Patriot League Championships. The Bucknell men have finished in the top four at the league meet in each of Schinnerer’s first eight seasons. Four different swimmers (Mark Kawczenski, Mike Nicholson, Eric Sokolosky, Luke Trafton) have combined for 10 individual Patriot League titles under Schinnerer’s tutelage. Under Schinnerer’s direction, the women’s team produced 10 all-league performers on the way to a second-place finish at the Patriot League Championships in his first year. In three of the last seven seasons, Schinnerer has led the women to runner-up finishes at the league championships and the squad has had eight consecutive top-three showings under his leadership. New records have been set in 20 events during Schinnerer’s tenure. The Bucknell women are coming off a pair of outstanding campaigns that have featured back-to-back second-place finishes at the Patriot League Championships. The Bison have won 10 individual Patriot League titles and had 18 All-Patriot League selections over that span. Additionally, Bucknell’s eight dual-meet wins in 2013-14 were its most since 1997-98, and the Bison were undefeated (6-0) against Patriot League opponents. Prior to becoming the frontman for the Bison in the summer of 2006, the 2001 Yale graduate was an assistant coach with Michigan’s nationally ranked men’s swimming team. Schinnerer had been associated with the vaunted Michigan program since 2003, first as a volunteer assistant and then as a full-time assistant coach beginning in July 2004. Over his last three seasons the Wolverines finished fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively, at the NCAA Championships, and in each of his final two years they produced two NCAA individual champions. Schinnerer, who served as the team’s recruiting coordinator and budget administrator, designed and implemented the training program for the sprint and breaststroke group. He was able to work with Olympic-caliber swimmers, including Michigan student assistant coach Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all-time with 22 career medals. Four Michigan swimmers competed on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. The Wolverines placed five swimmers with Michigan ties on the 2005 USA World Championship Team, and the Club Wolverine squad swept the men’s, women’s and combined titles at the national championships in the summer of 2006. At Michigan, Schinnerer apprenticed under a pair of legendary head coaches in Jon Urbanchek and Bob Bowman. Schinnerer was also heavily involved in Michigan’s highly regarded summer swimming camp program, where he mentored both girls and boys aged 9-18. As assistant camp director and head coach of the intensive camp, he worked with many top young swimmers on stroke technique and training principles. At Yale, Schinnerer was a four-year swimming letterman, where he graduated in 2001 with a bachelor of arts degree in history. As a member of the Bulldogs swimming team, he was a Senior Nationals qualifier and was the recipient of the William Leeming Jellife Award for "greatest progress and development in swimming ability and outstanding leadership during his college years." The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native went on to teach history and serve as assistant swimming coach at The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. He helped Peddie to an Eastern Interscholastic Prep School girls’ title in 2002 and a boys’ championship in 2003. Schinnerer coached multiple NISCA All-Americans, U.S. Open qualifiers and senior national qualifiers at Peddie. At Bucknell, Schinnerer took over a storied Bison swimming and diving program that has excelled since moving into the state-of-the-art Kinney Natatorium in 2002-03. Bucknell’s women captured four straight Patriot League championships from 2003-2006, while the Bison men won the title in 2003 and have finished among the top three teams regularly over the past eight seasons. The Bucknell men won the 1964 NCAA College Division championship and have won 18 conference titles since 1960. Schinnerer resides in Lewisburg with his wife Lesia, and their sons Kase and Erik.
Errol Carter

Errol Carter

Diving Coach

Former University of Connecticut standout diver Errol Carter enters his 21st season as coach of the Bison men’s and women’s diving program in 2016-17. The 2009, 2012 and 2013 Patriot League Diving Coach of the Year, Carter graduated from UConn in 1996 with a bachelor of science degree in therapeutic recreational services. He concluded an internship at the Institute of Living in Hartford in 1998, which completed his undergraduate requirements. While at UConn, Carter was a four-year letterwinner as a diver. He advanced to the Big East finals off the three-meter board in both his sophomore (1993-94) and junior (1994-95) seasons. He was also a conference finalist off the one-meter board in 1993-94. Carter helped his team win its first New England championship in 1994-95 by placing fifth on both boards. Carter, in 2003, helped Bison diver Adam Freeman to a Patriot League title and several school-record performances. In 2005, he coached Freeman and Erika Mannix to the NCAA Zone "A" Diving Championships. In recent years Carter helped Rebecca Bersani to four straight all-league nods, Allison FitzPatrick earn her first all-league citation as a senior in 2010 and he helped David Magaro earn all-league honors as a freshman and an NCAA Zone Diving berth as a sophomore. Carter then guided Tara Boyle and Katie Hetherington to three Patriot League titles over a two-year span. In Lewisburg, Carter volunteers his time with the community diving team, and he also helped run a diving camp at West Chester University.
JF

John Funk

Assistant Coach

John Funk joined the Bucknell swimming & diving program as an assistant coach in June 2018. Funk comes to Bucknell from Division I Texas Christian University, where he was elevated to assistant coach in August 2014 after serving a season as a graduate assistant coach. At Texas Christian, Funk worked with the breaststroke and butterfly stroke groups and served as the men's team coordinator and NCAA compliance liaison. He coached a Big 12 champion and helped swimmers set school records in the 100 backstroke, 200 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly, 200 and 400 freestyle relays and 200 and 400 medley relays. Many of his athletes posted NCAA 'B' times and met the Olympic Trials time standard. Away from the pool, Funk planned alumni functions, team banquets and luncheons. He was heavily involved in recruiting and served as the meet manager for all home competitions. He also helped oversee the program's summer youth games and led the Texas University USA Swim Club beginning in August 2015. Before his time with the Horned Frogs, Funk was an assistant coach for the Princeton Pirates Swim Team (2012-2013) and student teacher at Grace A. Dunn Middle School (2013). Funk graduated from Rider University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and English and later obtained his master's degree in Liberal Arts from Texas Christian in 2017. A three-time MAAC champion and team MVP, Funk helped lead the Broncs to back-to-back MAAC titles in 2012 and 2013 and qualified for the U.S. Open. He set a school and MAAC record in the 200 IM at the 2012 MAAC Championships, clocking in at 1:47.56. He also competed in the 100 butterfly and 400 IM and was a member of the 800 freestyle relay team that set the school record at the 2012 ECAC Championships.
Brennan Morris

Brennan Morris

Assistant Coach

Brennan Morris joined the Bucknell swimming and diving staff as an assistant coach in September of 2022. Morris, himself a former student-athlete at current Patriot League rival Loyola, came to Bucknell with extensive coaching experience at the club level. Most recently, Morris served as a senior swim coach with the Winter Park Blue Dolfins in Winter Park, Fla. He designed and implemented a training program for the club’s top senior group of high school and college-aged swimmers. Before moving to Florida, Morris coached at two clubs in Connecticut. He served as the head age group coach and senior swim coach at Chelsea Piers Aquatics Club from 2013-2020 and was elevated to head swim team coach in June 2020. In that role, he oversaw a staff of six full-time coaches and created and planned the budget for a 280-member club that was recognized by USA Swimming with Gold Medal Status. From 2016-21, Morris also served as the head swim team coach at Roxbury Swim & Tennis Club in Stamford, Conn. “We are very excited to have Brennan joining our team,” said head coach Dan Schinnerer at the time of his hire. “He has helped his swimmers develop as athletes and as individuals throughout his club coaching career. He has proven himself a coach with great energy and enthusiasm for the sport and his swimmers. In addition, Brennan competed at a national and international level as an athlete and can bring those experiences to share with our student-athletes who have similar aspirations.” Morris is a 2013 graduate of Loyola University Maryland, where he captained the swimming and diving team while earning a degree in international business. Morris competed at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Trials, and he was a National Age Group record-holder in the 13-14 boys 1650-yard freestyle. Morris competed in the 1,500m free at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Italy.
Kelly Essler

Kelly Essler

Assistant Coach

Kelly Essler joined the Bucknell swimming & diving program as an assistant coach in May 2023. Essler brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience to Bucknell. “We are very excited to have Kelly joining our team. She brings to us a great depth of experience and knowledge, having been a successful head coach at the NAIA level,” said head coach Dan Schinnerer. “Every program she has been a part of has made great improvements, and we are excited for her to help us continue to grow as a program.” Most recently, Essler spent the last four seasons as head coach of the Olivet Nazarene University men’s and women’s swimming & diving teams. Essler guided the Tigers to a combined seven Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference titles. She earned KCAC Coach of the Year recognition each year, and she’s led the women’s program to two third-place finishes at the NAIA National Championships. Essler coached five KCAC Swimmers of the Year during her time at ONU, including Karla Islas, who captured national titles in the 400 IM and 1650 freestyle. Her Tiger teams have garnered more than 50 individual NAIA All-American honors along with NAIA All-American relay teams. Prior to ONU, Essler spent four years at her alma mater, Milligan College, and served as head coach from 2016 to 2019. She found instant success with the Buffaloes, as her teams broke 11 school records and saw two national finalists during her first season at the helm of the program. Essler was named Appalachian Athletic Conference Women’s Coach of the Year in 2017-18. Essler has been involved in collegiate swimming outside of coaching as well, serving as secretary for NAIA Swimming from 2017 to 2018 and as vice president of the organization from 2018 to 2019. As a student-athlete, Essler set five school records for the Milligan swimming team and competed in seven different races at the NAIA National Championships during her freshman campaign. She was also a cyclist and went on to represent Team USA on the World Championship Triathlon team in Switzerland in 2019. Essler earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Milligan in 2014.