Editor’s Note: Florida State’s old diving coach, Patrick Jeffrey, left the program this summer to take over as the head diving coach at Stanford.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State swimming and diving Head Coach Frank Bradley has announced the hiring of John Proctor as the newest head diving coach on Monday (Aug.25).
“John is a great addition to our staff,” Bradley said. “I think he will make a smooth transition into our program. He’s very well-rounded and has been familiar with our athletes since he’s been affiliated with USA diving for quite some time.”
Proctor joins the Seminole staff after serving as the Program Director and Head Diving Coach of City of Midland (COM) Aquatics in Midland, Texas for 15 years (1999-2014). He built a nationally-known program where he has produced over 50 junior national individual champions including four USA Junior All-Starts and has also coached a finalist in every USA Diving National Meet since 2009.
In 2011, COM Aquatics was named a USA Diving Center of Excellence.
Since 2008, Proctor has occupied the volunteering position of Coaching Representative on the Board of Directors at USA Diving after previously collaborating on the Committee for Competitive Excellence in 2004.
In 2012, he was invited to join the USA Diving staff at the FINA Grand Prix in Rostock, Germany.
“He’s a guy that is very well connected,” Bradley said. “I know he will be able to work well with our athletes on top of being an excellent recruiter. We’re working towards something here as a program and I believe that John will help us get there. I’m happy to have him on board.”
Proctor has produced a three-time and current national team member Anna James, who is currently heading into her freshman year at Purdue. James competed in the 10m-syncronized event at the 2011 FINA World Championships before contesting in the same event at the 2014 FINA Diving World Series in 2014 in both Dubai and Beijing.
While at the helm of COM Aquatics, Proctor oversaw the development of 225 athletes ranging from beginners to elite level divers in addition to heading the growth of five assistant coaches. Proctor has also been the heart of fundraising for the club, generating over three-million dollars in athletic scholarship money since 1999 while directing the Dive Parent Booster Club.
During his 15 years in Midland, Proctor has volunteered for other duties that included both Junior (2000-2005) and Senior (2006-2008) Diving Representative roles for the Northwest Texas Diving Association.
Prior to 1999, Proctor was the head coach of the Tucson Diving Team while serving as the diving team manager for the University of Arizona (1997-1999). He previously was the Head Diving Coach at Ballard High School in Louisville, Ky. (1995-1996) after starting his coaching career as an age group instructor at Auburn Diving Club (1992-1993).
The above is a press release submitted by Florida State Swimming & Diving.