Caitlin DeNise

Caitlin DeNise was named the interim men’s and women’s swimming head coach in August of 2023. She was elevated to the head coach position after serving as an assistant with the program for the previous two seasons.

During her time as an assistant coach with the program, DeNise has worked with 10 student-athletes that have been named to the Northwest Conference All-Conference Team. The Pioneers have racked up 46 top-10 marks and set three programs (all during the 2022-23 season).

Prior to her time at Lewis & Clark, DeNise worked as an assistant coach at her alma mater Cal State East Bay University (NCAA DII) and the University of the Pacific (NCAA DI).

At Cal State East Bay, she oversaw and coached the individual medley and distance groups and managed the recruitment of student-athletes from Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, North and South Dakota, Alaska and Wyoming. During her three seasons with the Pioneers (2018-21), the program won the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference Titles and she coached three student-athletes who competed at the NCAA DII National Championship Meet. She also trained and coached Claire Beaty who was a 2021 Olympic Trial Qualifier in the 200 Breaststroke.

She spent one season working with the Pacific Tigers (2015-16). DeNise collaborated with the head coach to develop the sprint and individual medley groups practices. She spent the season working with NCAA Qualifier Kenna Ramey (100 Butterfly).

Outside of her work at the collegiate level, DeNise also worked for two years at the club level with the Pleasanton Seahawks. She worked as the Senior Assistant to the head coach and was in charge of the Senior Elite Group from August 2016 to January 2017. During her two years with the Seahawks, DeNise mentored and trained Junior National and National Level qualifiers and coached 2016 Olympics Trial Finals Qualifier Maxime Rooney (200 Freestyle).

DeNise enjoyed a fantastic career at Cal State East Bay. She was named the school’s “Female Athlete of the Year” in 2014 and made it to the NCAA DII Finals in the 100 butterfly. She set multiple school records during her four years and still holds the program record in the 100 Butterfly (54.78) and 400 Freestyle Relay (3:23.26). After graduation, she continued to compete and competed at the 2019 Toyota US Open in the 100 Butterfly and 50 Free.