McLean County Times

Dan Lloyd has been appointed as the director of the Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) men's and women's swimming and diving programs. This announcement was made public by IWU's Director of Athletics, Mike Wagner, on April 15. Lloyd, a five-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Coach of the Year, joins IWU after an 11-year tenure as head coach at Augustana College and will start his new role on May 1.

Mike Wagner expressed his enthusiasm for Lloyd's appointment, stating, "I am thrilled to welcome Dan home to Bloomington and excited to have him joining our Titan family. Throughout the search process, it became apparent that he was the right person to lead our program. He brings a competitive championship passion, is a proven program-builder, and values the Division III student-athlete experience. I look forward to seeing our programs thrive under his leadership."

Lloyd himself expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared his vision for the program: "Thank you to President Zenger and Athletic Director Mike Wagner for this opportunity. I am honored to lead and build the program as we create a culture that aligns with the vision that President Zenger has laid out for the University, where the academic experience is transformational for students as they pursue goals that will be impactful for a lifetime."

Reflecting on his decision to leave Augustana, Lloyd commented, "I am a coach, but first and most importantly I am a father. It is hard to leave Augustana after 11 years, but this decision was about being able to invest even more into my son's life and the love I have for him and my family."

During his time at Augustana, Lloyd led the swimming and diving squad to numerous CCIW Championships, both on the men's and women's sides. His achievements include coaching 64 CCIW Individual Champions and securing NCAA qualifiers, accumulating an 83-41 dual-meet record, and producing All-American and program record-setting athletes.

Lloyd's coaching journey has taken him to various institutions within the CCIW. He has previously held positions at Wheaton, where he contributed to four consecutive women's conference championships and a top-10 national finish, among other accolades. Earlier in his career, he gathered experience at Hendrix College, Lawrence University, and Normal West High School.

His coaching portfolio is extensive, including working alongside renowned coaches such as Dave Durden and Jon Urbanchek and roles in swim camps and clinics. In parallel to his athletic career, Lloyd has experience in web technology, having worked on Capitol Hill as the web technology director for the U.S. House of Representatives House Administration committee.

A native of Normal, Lloyd was a successful swimmer himself, achieving All-America status five times and being recognized as the CCIW's Swimmer of the Year in 2000 during his time at Millikin University.