Union College Men's Swimming

Felix was hired as Head Coach of the Mens and Womens swimming and diving program during the summer of 2001-02. Under Coach Felixs leadership, Union Swimming & Diving has proven to be a strong program in the Liberty League and UNYSCSA Championships. The womens team won the UNYSCSA Championship in 2005, 2007, 2008, while the men accomplished the feat in 2005.  The dual championship in 2005 was one of only 2 times in the history of the championship that a program with a common coach for men & women won both championships.  The womens team has won 4 consecutive Liberty League Championships 2005-08.  The team has also enjoyed success that the National level.  Since 2001, the team has sent 15 swimmers and 1 diver to the national championships.  Elliot Sequin won the national championship in the 100 Free in 2005.  Along with Elliots success there have been 4 All-American performances by Molly Freeman, Sydnie Wells and Kevin Kewin, and 42 Honorable Mention All-Americans. The 2002-03 Dutchmen finished 14th of 46 teams in the three-day NCAA championship meet by scoring 91 points. Union earned two All-American honors (both by Seguin) and came away with six honorable mention All-American awards. It marked the second consecutive year that the Dutchmen improved their position at the NCAA meet. The 2001-02 campaign saw the Dutchmen finish in the 21st position as the Dutchmen scored 45.6 points by capturing six honorable mention awards (up from the 16 points and 38th place finish posted by the 2000-01 Dutchmen). Seguin's two All- American trophies are the first under Coach Felix. The Dutchwomen won the NYS meet in 2005 and 2007, and they were 2nd in 2006. The women's team won the 2005, 2006 and 2007 Liberty League Championships.  The team has been to the national championships for the last 4 years, highlighted by All-American performances from Sydnie Wells and Molly Freeman in 2007. The 2007 squad also broke the 400 Medley relay team record, the first relay record to be broken in over a decade. Coach Felix, who had been the interim head coach at West Point prior to coming to Union, was the Black Knights assistant since 1998, helping the mens team win the Patriot League championship in both 2000 and 2001. During his tenure at Army, the womens squad set a team and conference record in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes while the men set team and conference records in the 200 breaststroke as well as in the 200 IM. Felix, who was also an assistant at West Point during the 1993-94 season, was an assistant at Springfield College for two years (1994 through 1996) before taking over as the head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan from 1996 through 1998, coaching the Bobcats mens and womens teams to NCAA Championship appearances each year. He coached six NCAA Division II All-Americans and six honorable mention All-Americans while leading the Bobcats womens team to the Penn-Ohio and the WVIAC championships in 1997, earning him the Womens Coach of the Year award. A total of 15 school records were claimed during his tenure. A 1991 graduate of the University of Delaware, Felix, who was a two-year team captain, helped the Blue Hens to a pair of East Coast Conference championships and graduated holding the record in the 400 IM. He earned his masters of science degree in exercise physiology from Springfield College in 1996.   Scott Felix was hired as Head Coach of the Mens and Womens swimming and diving program during the summer of 2001-02.

Skinner will be joining Union Head Coach Scott Felix as Assistant Swimming for the 2014-2015 season.                     Skinner joins Union after one season assisting both Hudson (OH) Explorers High School and Hudson Explorers Aquatics Team (HEAT). At Hudson, He assisted with on- deck coaching and dry-land workouts. He helped lead both the Mens and Womens High School Team to Akron (OH) Sectional champions and Northeast Ohio District champions in 2014.          Skinner graduated from Wilmington College of Ohio in 2013 with a degree in Health promotions while participating with the WC Swimming Team for four years. During his freshmen year he was member of the record breaking 800 freestyle relay and during his junior year he was part of the record breaking 200 medley relay. He was also a conference finalist all four years in 100 and 200 Breaststroke and the 500 Freestyle.         Originally from Stow, Ohio, Skinner swam for Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs from 2006-2009 where he was the captain for one season. He also swam for Hudson Aquatics Swim  Team from 2006-2009.

Canniff returned to Union as the diving coach prior to the 2008-09 season. She completed an outstanding diving career with the Dutchwomen in 2006-07. Canniff was a member of the NYSWCAA Championship Team in 2004-05, and also the Liberty League Championship squad that season. During her time as a Union student, she was a member of the S.A.I.L Tutoring Program as well as Best Buddies. During her time on the staff, Canniff has developed many outstanding divers for the program. In 2013, Ian Drillinger completed his senior season competing at the NCAA Division III Championships. Tara Canniff Diving Coach 6331 Tara Canniff returned to Union as the diving coach prior to the 2008-09 season. She completed an outstanding diving career with the Dutchwomen in 2006-07. Canniff was a member of the NYSWCAA Championship Team in 2004-05, and also the Liberty League Championship squad that season. During her time as a Union student, she was a member of the S.A.I.L Tutoring Program as well as Best Buddies. During her time on the staff, Canniff has developed many outstanding divers for the program. In 2013, Ian Drillinger completed his senior season competing at the NCAA Division III Championships.