TNYA Coaches: David Hildebrand

David grew up swimming at a summer club in downtown Philadelphia. He loved the water and started training year-round at the age of 9, eventually finding his way to the legendary coach Jim Ellis at PDR. He attended the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where he competed as a middle-distance freestyler and served as captain his senior year. David graduated with a B.A. in Religious Studies in 2003 and spent the next two years living in Germany and Israel.

After withdrawing from graduate school in 2005, David started careers in writing and modeling, working around the world for five years before settling in New York. David’s return to the pool — and the deck — came in the spring of 2012, when he joined TNYA. With a long history as an athlete and coach, David appreciates the range of swimming abilities that TNYA welcomes. He enjoys being able to offer his expertise to anyone from beginners to veterans, sprinters to open-water enthusiasts, to those who swim simply to stay fit or unwind.