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Former Illinois Tech All-American, Rob Bond, took the helm of the Scarlet Hawk men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs in 2000. Under Bond's tutelage, the Hawks have experience unprecedented success:
- 6 consecutive NAIA National Meet top 10 finishes, including school best 4th place in 2005 & 2006 for the men’s team
- 5 consecutive NAIA National Meet top 10 finishes, including school best 4th place in 2005 for the women’s team
- 4 of the 5 individual NAIA National champions in school history
- 40 of the 42 team records have been broken at least once
- 34 NAIA All-Americans
In 2004, Bond was named NAIA Men's Swimming and Diving National Coach of the Year. Prior to his return to Illinois Tech, Bond spent nine years at the high school and club level, directing a pair of successful prep programs at both Warren (1999-2001) and St. Viator (1998-1999) high schools. In 2001, his final season at Warren, Bond garnered Sectional Coach of the Year honors from the Illinois High School Association.
Aside from reaching All-American status as an undergraduate, Coach Bond was the school record holder in the 100-yard freestyle and all five relays. Those records have since been broken though.
Coach Bond also serves as the associate athletic director for compliance and director of aquatics. He and his wife, Bridget, reside on the north side of Chicago with their 1 year old son, Emmett.
Ryan Nelson joined the Illinois Tech coaching staff in 2005 as an assistant coach specifically to work with the Hawk divers. Prior to his arrival, Nelson served as an assistant coach at the University of Illinois (UIC) at Chicago from 1999-2000.
As an athlete, Nelson brings a legacy of success to the Hawks. A former all-conference diver at UIC, Nelson was a four-year letter-winner for the Flames from 1995-1999. During his tenure, he was a four-time NCAA Zone Championship Qualifier and a three-time All-Midwestern Collegiate Conference selection. Nelson served as the Flames co-captain during the 1998-99 season and was named UIC Athlete of the Year.
Nelson also works as an undergraduate counselor in the Office of Admission.
Pearson joined the Scarlet Hawks as an assistant coach after completing his four-year career in 2005. Selected captain by his teammates for three years, Pearson brings both leadership and experience to the program. A three-time national qualifier and NAIA academic All-American, Pearson’s strengths are in both the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke.
Pearson received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from IIT in 2004 and 2006 respectively. When not with the team, he’s continuing his academic career and working towards a doctoral degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. His work is supported by a fellowship from the National Science Foundation. He and his wife, Sherry, reside in Oak Park, a near-west suburb of Chicago.
Crandall joined the Scarlet Hawks program as an assistant coach in 2007. A veteran to the program, Crandall’s four-year letter winning career highlights with the Hawks include four years of competing at the national level, three finishes in the top six, and two team records. Crandall is currently working on his doctorate in biomedical engineering and lives on the Southside of Chicago with his beagle, Rufus.
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