Tim Hammond is in his 16th year serving in the Grinnell College Physical Education department. He is serving a second consecutive year as the Interim Director of the Grinnell Outdoor Recreation Program and lecturer. In the first 14 years he served as the Associate Head Coach of Women’s and Men’s Swimming and Diving, Natatorium Coordinator and Director of Intramural Sports with two semesters serving as the Interim Director of GORP as well. In the spring of 2016, Hammond was named one of the Ugandan National Coaches to train Joshua Tibatemwa ’18 for his Rio Olympic debut. Coach Hammond accompanied Tibatemwa to Rio when he represented Uganda in the 50-m freestyle.
His coaching experience also includes head coach at Decorah High School, coaching club swimming in Grinnell, and serving as an assistant at Luther. In addition to his coaching duties at Grinnell, Hammond was the recruiting coordinator and director of the strength and conditioning program for swimming and diving. Hammond received his level 4 coaching certification and level 3 paralympic coaching certification from the American Swim Coaches Association of America. While competing on the swimming and diving team at Luther, Hammond was named most inspirational performer.
Hammond was the Director of Outdoor Education at Montecito-Sequoia Resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains and has taught Environmental Education at Northern Illinois University, Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center in Minnesota, on the Soundwaters in Long Island Sound, and at Blackhawk Girl Scout Camp in Wisconsin. His teaching experience also includes teaching chemistry in Spanish and bilingual kindergarten while overseeing the Postville Community School District Hispanic academic assistance program.
He is a native of Grinnell, having graduated from Grinnell- Newburg High School and Luther College in Decorah with a bachelor of art degree in health, and minors in K-12 health education, Spanish and environmental studies. Hammond also holds a graduate certificate in public health from the University of Iowa and an M.B.A. with an emphasis in sustainability from Maharishi International University.
WOWSA Certified Coach Level
Certified Coach Level 2
Type of Coaching
Learn to Swim
Couch to 1k
Racing 25k and under
Dry Land
Accreditation and Awards
Iowa Masters Swimming 400IM State record holder 40-44 age group (2021)
United States Masters Swimming 3000 35-39 age group National Champion (2020)
United States Masters Swimming 1-mile Open Water 35-39 age group National Champion (2018)
United States Masters Swimming All-American honoree (2018)
Highlighted in “Coaching Swimming From a Division III Perspective” in Swimming World Magazine. 2015. http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/coaching-a-division-3-perspective/
Grinnell Prize for Young Innovator in Social Justice Staff Fellowship (2014)
2nd place at Iowa’s only open water race (2011)
Most Inspirational for Luther College Men’s Swim and Dive Team (2003)
Grinnell High School Athletic Hall of Fame (1999)
4th place at World Tae Kwon Do Championships (1997)
American College of Sports Medicine Health Fitness Specialist-expired
American Swimming Coaches Association Level 4 for National Collegiate Athletic Association III
American Swimming Coaches Association Level 3 for International Paralympic Committee
Black belt in the American Tae Kwon Do Association
Domestic and sexual abuse hotline counselor with Helping Services in northeast Iowa
Lifeguard, CPR and First Aid instructor by Red Cross 2009-2020
Pool Operator by National Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation
Project Wild and Project WET by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Small boat operation by the United States Coast Guard
SCUBA PADI recreational
Wilderness First Aid instructor by Red Cross
Wilderness First Aid by SOLO 2018-2020
Training Plans Offered
All training will be individualized based on goals.