GREENVILLE, N.C. – Former All-America diver and United States National Team member Darian Schmidt has been named diving coach at East Carolina University, head coach Rick Kobe announced Monday.
“We are excited to announce the addition of Darian Schmidt as our new diving coach,” Kobe said. “Darian has had an incredible diving career, and we are looking forward to helping him translate that into an incredible coaching career. We received numerous calls on Darian’s behalf from some very impressive coaches, but what really made him stand out was his interview. His energy, passion for the sport, and comfort with our staff made him the right choice for us.
“Our previous diving coaches have laid a strong foundation, and we’re confident Darian can build upon that and take the diving part of our program to another level.” A four-year letterman at Indiana University, Schmidt was named Big Ten Diver-of-the-Year in 2013 and ’14. He picked up his first conference title as a sophomore in 2012 on the 3-meter springboard before claiming the 1-meter springboard championship as a junior. A year later at the 2014 Big Ten Swimming and Diving Championships, Schmidt swept the dual events to finish his career with four conference titles. He was named Big Ten Diver-of-the-Meet during all three championship meets.
Schmidt competed at the NCAA Championships each of his four years at IU and earned All-America honors during each of his final three seasons. His top championship finish came as a junior when he claimed third-pace on the 3-meter springboard. He finished sixth in the 2013 1-meter competition and 2014 3-meter springboard event.
“I am very excited to become a part of the Pirate family,” Schmidt said. “I feel honored to be joining such a great coaching staff and I am excited to bring my knowledge to help build what is an already a successful program.”
Schmidt has coached with three-time U.S. Olympic Coach Jeffrey Huber since 2009 at the TriSyngerG Diving Camp and spent one season coaching under Indiana Head Coach and U.S.A. Olympic Head Diving Coach Drew Johansen as a student assistant coach at IU during the 2014-15 campaign. A member of the U.S. National Team from 2013-16, Schmidt competed at the 2015 World Championships and was selected to five USA FINA Grand Prix squads. He was also a part of the 2014, ’15 and ’16 Olympic Performance team.
“I am so excited for Darian and East Carolina University. He just finished a stellar world class diving career and will be starting what I am sure to be a world class coaching career at a great school with a rich tradition and great support for diving.”- Indiana Head Coach and U.S.A. Olympic Head Diving Coach Drew Johansen
“Besides being an elite diver and national and international competitor, he is simply a wonderful human being and talented coach who is well positioned to become one of USA’s top coaches in the future. I coached side-by-side with Darian for many years at my summer diving academy. He is passionate, knowledgeable, hardworking, enthusiastic, competitive and caring. Divers love working with him and I look forward to following his coaching career.” – three-time U.S. Olympic Coach Jeffrey Huber
Swimming news courtesy of ECU Swimming & Diving.