Coach Hutchinson will be beginning his first full season with Penn Aquatics. He came on board in October of 2009 and hit the ground running with the beginning of the USA swimming season, Then he took on the Suburban Aquatic League season and hasn't stopped since.
Dean is a very modest man when he speaks about his own personal
accomplishments. However, his swimming achievements and coaching experience are vast, varied and quite impressive.
Dean is a very modest man when he speaks about his own personal
accomplishments. However, his swimming achievements and coaching experience are vast, varied and quite impressive. Hutchinson was an assistant coach at Rider University for the last 7 years. He was a former standout swimmer for Delran High School, Jersey Wahoo’s, Auburn University and the US National Team.
One of his former coaches once described his approach to sprint swimming as “controlled fury”.
Unfortunately, while at Auburn, a tumor in his lung took him out of swimming for a full season. The doctors had removed one-half of the affected lung but had gone out of their way not to cut the latissmus dorsi muscle so that he could still swim. With only a partial lung and a longing to get back in the pool and be the best HE could be, Dean continued to pursue his swimming dream. Hutchinson was introduced to a special new training program developed by one of his coaches, Mike Bottom (working under Auburn University Head Coach David Marsh). Bottom is now head coach at the University of Michigan and an accomplished Olympic coach. While at Auburn from 1991-94, Bottom created the ultra sprint program and Dean was one of the first participants. Miraculously, Hutchinson bounced back to competition swimming form so well that he made it to the NCAA finals after finishing the program. He was also a co-captain of Auburn’s first ever Southeastern Conference Championship team in 1994. To his credit, he was a seven-time NCAA Division I All-American while at Auburn.
Some of Dean’s fondest swimming memories was as a seasoned international swimmer and USA National Team member. His highest world ranking was eighth in the 50 meter freestyle in 1994. He was a finalist in multiple National and International Championships including Rookie of the Meet honors at a USA Olympic Selection meet. In fact, Dean was a three time participant in Olympic Selection meets!
The highlight of his 1999-2000 season was winning the silver medal in the 50 meter freestyle at the 1999 World University Games in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. He was further honored when he was asked to carry our country's flag and lead our delegation at the closing ceremonies.
Dean earned his B.S. degree in Exercise Science at Auburn University and has added an M.S degree in Physical Therapy from Allegheny University in 1998. Hutchinson practices physical therapy with Dynamic Physical Therapy in Marcus Hook, PA.
Over the years, he has continued to develop his coaching skills by offering clinics to swim clubs, university teams and sport governing bodies throughout the world. His awesome spring clinic was deinitely the best one ever! Coach Hutchinson has developed a coaching relationship with many in the sport, including Olympic champion Pieter von den Hoogenband teaching the track start. While Hutchinson’s competitive success has been in the sprint events, he is knowledgeable in all areas of training. Our head Coach has learned from some of the worlds best coaches, including David Marsh (former Head Coach, Auburn), Mike Bottom (Head coach, Michighan and Olympic Swimming Coach), and John Carroll (Head Coach, Jersey Wahoos). Dean has been utilizing that education in order to bring Penn Aquatics to a higher level of swimming and diving for today and the future.
