Bethany College has hired David Dow as the new head coach for their men's and women's swimming and diving teams. Dow was previously an assistant coach at SUNY Cortland, where his teams achieved success, including second place conference finishes. Over 70 applicants applied for the Bethany position. Dow was chosen because of his experience coaching at the Division III level and recruiting success, bringing over 30 new swimmers to Cortland. Dow acknowledged that adjusting to being a new head coach and having the athletes adjust to his coaching style will be challenges he faces in his new role.

1. Anthony Sparks
Mrs. M.E. Yancosek Gamble
Comm 201
September 1, 2011
Welcoming New Bethany College Coaches
Bethany College has added youth and experience to their coaching staff. David Dow, former
assistant coach at State University of New York, Cortland, has been selected as the new head men’s and
women’s swimming and diving coaching position.
During his tenure on the coaching staff, the Red Dragon men’s team went 28-5 in dual meets
and finished in second place at the SUNYAC, State University of New York Athletic Conference,
Championship twice, while the women posted a 21-7 record in dual meets and finished second at the
SUNYAC Championship twice meet in 2010 and third this past winter. He was rather familiar to Cortland
for he was a four-year member and a two-year captain for the Red Dragons; he broke the school record
in the 1,000 freestyle in 2009. Dow claimed two titles in the 1,650 Free at the SUNYAC Championship
meet and was twice named to the SUNYAC All-Conference First Team and twice to the Second Team.
Over 70 applicants were pursuing this position. Coach Dow had said that he was chosen for this
position because he has been coaching at Cortland for 2 years, which is also a Division III school, and he
understands the importance of the passion that athletes have in the sports they play in Division III. With
his previous work in Division III level, he should have an immediate impact on the swimming program.
One of his greatest feats at Cortland, he was a very successful recruiter by adding over 30 swimmers to
his squad, and he hopes he can recruit swimmers in high numbers in the next few years to become more
competitive in the PAC, President Athletic Conference. Coach Dow talked about “having the swimmers
and divers adjust to having a new coach because I may not have the same coaching tactics that the
previous coach had, and I must adjust to being a head coach and the new responsibilities I’ll have.”