Niki Alvarez was named Lynn University’s inaugural head women’s swimming coach and the second head cross country coach on February 7, 2012. Tasked with building two programs at the same time, Alvarez rose to the challenge and developed two programs that received national recognition until she took control solely of the swimming program in the spring of 2016.
During her tenure in the pool, Alvarez has quickly made a name for the Fighting Knights swimming programs. Since the women’s team’s inception in 2012-13, Lynn has received 98 All-America and 45 Scholar All-America selections, and had 24 All-SSC honorees and two SSC Swimmer of the Year recipients. The program has also won three individual NCAA Division II National Championships and a 200-medley relay National Title.
Over the last three seasons, Lynn has emerged as one of DII’s top women’s swimming programs after finishing 14th at the NCAA Championships in 2021-22, seventh in 2022-23 and fifth in 2023-24.
Alvarez started the Lynn men’s swimming program in 2019-20 and, in just five years, the Fighting Knights captured fifth at the SSC Championships in 2023-24 with a 29th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Malek Masmoudi and Maurice Grabowski have each captured two All-American awards, while Grabowski captured eighth (43.97) in the 100 freestyle in ’23-24 to become the program’s first-ever First Team All-American.
Alvarez was tasked with reinstating the cross country program after an 11-year absence. While the squad stumbled out of the gates early, she was able to train the first cross country student-athlete in school history, Gabriella Wuyke, to reach the NCAA South Region Tournament and later the Division II National Championship, as well as Sarah Northup, who qualified for the NCAA South Regional. Wuyke was also a two-time SSC All-Championship team selection, First Team All-SSC honoree and All-South Region pick under Alvarez's guidance.
Alvarez arrived at Lynn with over 12 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, where success followed her at every locale. Prior to joining the blue & white, she spent eight years as Florida Atlantic University’s men’s and women’s assistant swimming coach.
In 2006, Alvarez helped the Owls to an appearance at the NCAA Championships. On the women's side, FAU earned two fourth-place finishes, while a member of the men's team advanced to the `B' final of the 100-yard breaststroke. Alvarez was also the head of the men’s and women’s distance program at FAU and in 2006 became the head recruiter from both FAU swim teams.
Prior to Florida Atlantic, Alvarez held the head coaching post at Georgia Southern University from 2002-04. In her first season with Georgia Southern, the team earned a third place finish at the Southern State Championship meet. Guiding the Eagles into the Northeast Conference in 2004, she saw her team finish third at the conference championships and led the Eagles to a winning record in her two seasons at the helm of the program.
Alvarez also spent time as a graduate assistant instructor at Florida State from 2000-01 as well as the head aquatic club swimming coach at Maclay School in Tallahassee.
Alvarez got her first collegiate experience at the College of Charleston where she served as an assistant coach after graduating in 1999. While attending the C of C, she was a team co-captain, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board and co-president for one year.
In addition to Alvarez’s collegiate swimming coaching experience, she brings a plethora of knowledge to Lynn as a four-time USA Triathlon All-American from 2007-10. Alvarez volunteered as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training coach from 2006-07. She also holds a USA Triathlon Level I coaching certification.
Alvarez has a Master’s of Science Degree in Sport Management from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology from College of Charleston.
