2021-2022 Coaches
A Special Note from Coach Mike Darland...
As a parent and long term coach, I believe a very important decision in your child's life is "which athletic endeavors to choose" and just as important, "who to choose as your coaches". With this in mind, I have assembled an impressive group of coaches to help coach my team. Some of them are well know and accomplished at the highest levels of national and international diving. I also have coaches with the personalities that kids love. I look forward to you getting to know this group.
Owner & Head Coach Michael Darland
Head Coach Mike Darland with 5 time Olympic Coach Kimball
Diving & Coaching Background
-Competitive U.S. Diver on 10-meter Platform, 3 and 1-meter springboard (Coached by Olympic Coach Dick Kimball)
-University of Michigan Diving Team (1975-1979) & Varsity Letter Winner
-Coached for over 8 years by Olympic Coaches Dick Kimball & Ron O'Brien
-Safety Certification Trainer for U.S. Diving Coaches since 2008
-FINA Certified International Diving Judge since 2009 - Qualified to Judge World Level & Divers in International Competitions
-Chairman - AAU Metropolitan Diving
-Chairman - U.S. Diving - Southern N.Y. Diving Association
-Diving Director of Future Stars Summer Camp since 2007
-Diving Safety Certification & Lifegaurd Instructor
Education & Business Career
-University of Michigan-BGS Degree, Business & Communication Concentration 1979
-Northwestern University - M.B.A. - 1989
-Marketing Executive: Corporate Companies worked for included Procter & Gamble, The Quaker Oats Company, Con Agra, Alberto Culver & Del Labs
High Performance Coach- Johan Lopez
15 Years Diving Coach Experience - College & U.S. Diving Junior Olympic
College - U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Diving Coach since 2015
US Diving - High Dive Champions 2011-2019
NCAA Diver at Lehman College
Trained with Olympic Coach Jeff Huber
U.S. Diving Trampoline Spotting Specialist - Certified by Olympic Coach Dick Kimball
Development Coach Cassie Keenan
High Dive Champions Developmement Coach since 2019
High Dive Champions High School Diver - Beginning 2013
Purchase College Diving & Swim Instructor
since 2018
Guest Coach - Zhihua Hu
1992 China Olympic Team Coach
Fordham University Diving Coach - Since 2001
New York Dive Team (Age Group Team - Head
Coach since 2001)
Future Stars Guest Coach - 2021
Coach of Summer Diving - All Ages
Guest Coach - Ken Vigiletti
University of Michigan and Kimball Diver
High School State Diving Champion - Michigan
High School All American
University of Michigan Letter Winner
Big Ten Diving Championship Finalist
NCAA Division 1 Diving Championship Finalist
Coach of Summer Diving-All Ages
Olympic Coach Dick Kimball - Guest Coach
Olympic Coach –1964,1980, 1984, 1988, 1992
Coach of 5 Olympic Gold Medalists, 5 Silver Medalists & 3 Bronze Medalists
Coach of 68 National Diving Champions
International Hall of Famer
University of Michigan Diving Coach 1960 – 2002
Coach of the Year – Multiple Years for Senior Diving & Age Group
NCAA Diving Champion in 1957 (1 & 3 Meter)
1963 World Champion - Professional Diving Championships
Future Stars Diving Coach since 2008
High Dive Special Guest Coach for Kimball Cup week since 2004