Hinderman, 23, is assisting Tom Olson, director of skiing and the men's and women's alpine coach at Whitman.
Hinderman, who finished his bachelor's degree in natural resources in December, 1994, served as the assistant cross country coach the past two seasons at Dimond High School in Anchorage, Alaska.
"Having Chris here is going to help a great deal," Olson said. "He brings a very strong racing background and a lot of knowledge to our program."
At Whitman, Hinderman inherited cross country teams that helped the college capture four-way national titles (alpine/cross country combined) in early 1995 at the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association championships. Most of those cross country skiers returned in 1996 to give Hinderman plenty of talent to work with.
"When you get a late start on the season, as I'm doing, it's nice to have these kind of athletes to work with," Hinderman said. "This is a very athletic group."
In taking Whitman's cross country reins in January, Hinderman immediately focused his squad's attention on the regional and national championships.
"Right now we're definitely looking at the long term," Hinderman said. "The only competition that concerns me is the national championships. Everything before that is just preparation. This weekend we just want to get a good workout."
Hinderman, a graduate of Dimond High School, qualified for the NCAA national championships during his junior and senior seasons at the University of Vermont, a traditional ski powerhouse. Vermont captured the national four-way title at the end of his senior season, one year after placing second.
Competing against the best skiers in the world, Hinderman made his best showing at nationals when he placed 14th as a senior in the 10-kilometer classic.
"It was very competitive," he said. "My senior year, our men's cross country team included myself, two Norwegians and a Finn. We didn't have anyone from the continental U.S. I definitely learned a lot, not only from the coaching staff at Vermont, but from the other skiers as well."
Hinderman's life on skis began at a very young age. "There are pictures of me on skis when I was two. So, I guess I've been skiing in one form or another for most of my life."
The 1996 men's cross country team at Whitman includes Zach Vestal, a junior from Boise, Idaho, who captured a national title last season in the 15-kilometer classic. Also returning are Neil McMahon, a junior from Anchorage, and Nick Hinz, a sophomore from Blue Lake, Calif., two skiers who teamed with Vestal to win the relay event at nationals. McMahon also placed third in the freestyle.
Newcomers on the men's team this season are Peter French, a freshman from Redmond, Wash., and Dillon Bush, a freshman from Aniak, Alaska.
The women's team returns two skiers -- Jenny Fischer, a senior from Bend, Oregon, and Julie Stafford, a senior from Anchorage -- who placed second in the relay event at nationals last year. In individual competition, Fischer placed fifth in the freestyle and seventh in the classic, while Stafford was eighth in both events.
Also returning are Kirsten Pattinson, a junior from Portland, Oregon, who placed 10th in both individual events last year at nationals, and Oni Ogsbury, a senior from Boulder, Colo., who rejoins the team after studying in South America last year.
Koren Bell, a freshman from Fairbanks, Alaska, is new to the women's cross country team.
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