Andy Hamilton '85 became Grinnell's Director of Athletics and Recreation in the summer of 2016 after serving as an assistant athletic director here since 2007.
Hamilton succeeded Greg Wallace, who held that role since 2007.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Hamilton served as head men's tennis coach since 1995 and head women's tennis coach since 2007, leading both teams to multiple Midwest Conference championships.
During his career Hamilton also coached women's basketball, was a men's basketball assistant coach and assisted with football. His tutorial course and offerings in sport sociology, sport journalism and organization and administration of athletics have made valuable contributions to the curriculum.
Hamilton pushed the Pioneer tennis teams to the national scale, as they achieved NCAA regional rankings and crowned numerous singles and doubles league champs.
Grinnell claimed 13 consecutive MWC men's championships and 14 of the last 15 since the 2002 season. In winning the last 13 league titles, the Pioneer netmen posted an impressive 306-96 overall dual match record. They won 73 consecutive matches in MWC play and posted 125 straight wins over MWC opponents.
The 2014 team set a school record for victories with 32.
Grinnell recorded at least 10 dual-match victories in 19 straight seasons, including 18 or more the last 12 seasons. Under Hamilton, the Pioneers finished no lower than fourth in the league.
A major milestone for Hamilton's program occurred in 2002 when Felipe Bautista '02 became the first Grinnell men's tennis player to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships. In 2009, Dan LaFountaine ’09 and Nate Fox ’09 became the first Grinnell doubles team to advance to nationals since the advent of the D-III Tournament and also became the Pioneers’ first-ever All-Americans. At the same time, Juan Carlos Perez ’11 became Grinnell’s third national singles qualifier and again qualified for nationals in 2010 and 2011.
Another milestone occurred in 2008 when Hamilton reached his 200th career victory and the Pioneers winning their first-ever NCAA Tournament contest. Through the spring of 2015, Hamilton had a 406-171 mark.
The women's program qualified for seven NCAA Division III National Tournaments under Hamilton's guidance.
The 2008-09 team became the first in Grinnell women’s tennis history to win an NCAA Tournament match as the Pioneers shut out Westminster (Mo.). Hamilton was also been named MWC Coach of the Year four times.
Through the spring of 2016, Hamilton’s Grinnell teams posted an overall mark of 154-65 while going 44-5 in MWC play.
During the 2012-13 campaign, Laura Krull '13 became the first Pioneer woman to win the USTA/ITA Regional Tournament and the first to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Hamilton is married to Sarah Hamilton ’91, and they have two children, William and Lily.
