Strokes in the right direction have led Ryan Hawke, Head Coach of the Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive teams, to the Coach of the Year Award. This honor was awarded to Hawke after a season of personal records and moving up in the MIAC.

“Ryan clearly had a season training plan which was very well executed at the MIAC Championships,” Associate Director for Athletics Beth Rittler said. “All student athletes dropped time and a number of school records were broken.”

The Men’s Swim and Dive team kicked off the MIAC Championship meet with senior Hodd Gorman finishing third in the 500 meter free race and earned him All-Conference honors. Junior Gabe Mcgee, first-year Isaac Hanson, first-year Andrew Hobar and Gorman claimed fifth place in the 400 meter Medley relay

“[Coach Hawke] is one of the best coaches I have ever had, by far,” Mcgee said. “He pushes everyone everyday and puts personal problems behind him.”.

The second day of Men’s MIAC Championship meet was another successful day for Hawke and his team, as Gorman, junior Cody Clay, Hanson and first-year Nicholas Grivna took third in the 800 meter Free Relay.

“Ryan is passionate about building competitive MIAC teams,” Rittler said. “He is extremely committed to training our student-athletes to be well-prepared for the MIAC Championship meet.”

The Pipers were fired up for the last day of the Championship meet at the University of Minnesota pool. Gorman stole another title as he finished fourth in the 1650 meter race. Junior Adam Berg followed Gorman’s lead and claimed the fifth place spot for the Pipers. At the end of the day, Hamline finished with 317 points and took sixth place. After was when a milestone was made for Head Coach Hawke as he was named the MIAC Men’s Swimming Coach of the Year.

“I was shocked” Hawke said. “Typically these awards to to the coach of the conference winning team. When they announced it, I was flattered. This is an award that should go to the coaching staff and team as a whole because it really is a team effort. The team had to perform well and the coaching and communication is way too much for one coach to handle. I was truly thankful for the honest effort throughout the year from our athletes, volunteers and coaches.”

The Coach of the Year Award is assessed and given out by other MIAC Men’s Swimming coaches to one of their peers each year.

“I’m very happy for Ryan,” Athletic Director Jason Verdugo said. “I’m glad the MIAC coaches took a hard look to recognize his efforts and our student-athletes during the MIAC Championship. [I’m] so happy they look a little deeper at our program improvement.”

Hawke anticipates this award to be a turning point not only for him, but his program. While he and his team have finished the season, it is clear that they are just getting started.

“I think that this is justification that we are moving in the right direction. I have been keeping a close eye on the team and our progress throughout the last few years, but to have others acknowledge this and to recognize this and award Hamline with this honor is the justification that the team is trending in the right direction and the other conference teams are seeing that we are becoming more relevant threat in all events,” Hawke said. “I think that this is also motivation to keep up the intensity and to continue to push to be our best.”