Chris Fantz coaches in his fourth season for the Pioneers.  He was voted the 2010 Women’s Swimming “Coach of the Year” in the Northwest Conference last season.  Both squads are poised for strong performances this year.  Since Chris’ arrival in 2007, Pio swimmers have raced to 16 new school records and numerous NCAA provisional qualifying times.  The team has grown in numbers and depth as they build on their foundation of academic and athletic success.

Before joining the Pioneers in 2007, Chris served as Assistant Coach at the University of Puget Sound where their women capped a run of eleven Northwest Conference titles and their men place consistently in the top two.  In his time coaching the Loggers, they sent four swimmers to the Division III National Championships.

While in Tacoma, Chris also coached with Tacoma Swim Club before becoming Head Age Group coach with Metro Aquatics where he oversaw all levels of development within the age group program.

During his swimming career, Chris was several time All-American and school record holder in butterfly and freestyle races while competing at UPS from 1995 to 1999.  He also anchored the Conference record-setting 200 Freestyle Relay that stood for ten years.

In addition to leading the swimming programs at Lewis & Clark, Chris serves as Director of Aquatics and an instructor in Physical Education at the College.  He lives in Portland with his wife, Heather, and their cat, Beatrice.