Hamstra will lead the USF Women’s Swimming program in his fifth season after being named the head coach in April of 2018.
Hamstra took over for interim head coach Rita Koryukova, who directed the USF Swimming Program to a 21st place finish at the NCAA DII Championships in just its second season of competition. The Cougars, led by two All-American top-three finishes by freshman Cassie Wright, recorded the best NCAA DII finish among NSIC teams. USF also finished third at the NSIC Swimming & Diving Championships.
Hamstra, who was an All-American swimmer at Hope College, has experience working with young programs.
Originally of Zeeland, Michigan, Hamstra joined the Saginaw Valley State coaching staff to help develop their new men’s and women’s programs into two of the top programs in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). In 2017-18, Hamstra helped the SVSU Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving programs continue their upward climb. At the GLIAC Meet, both teams finished fourth for a second consecutive season. The SVSU Women’s team placed 42nd at the 2018 NCAA DII Championships.
Prior to SVSU, Hamstra served as the head coach at Alma College, a DII in Alma, Michigan, for six years where he developed strategies about swimming, academics and assisting student-athletes in reaching their peak performance.
During his time at Alma College (2007-13), the Scots broke 40 school records and had more than 125 all-time top-10 performances. He coached two Division III All-Americans, five all-conference swimmers and one conference "Diver of the Year." While there, the women’s team was seventh in NCAA DIII for team grade point average in 2009-10.
Hamstra graduated from Hope College with a bachelor's degree in accounting and went on to earn his masters in sports administration from Central Michigan University.
Chris and his wife, Caitlin, reside in Sioux Falls with their two children.
Updated: 7/2023
