Indiana University Athletics
The Greatness of Indiana Diving
2/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Feb. 22, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The success of the Indiana diving program is in large part due to the contribution of one man, IU head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber. In his tenure, Huber has become a highly regarded diving coach with 29 years of experience at the collegiate level. Huber credits the program's success to team effort and not his own.
"The success of our program is due to the hard work and dedication of our staff and student-athletes," Huber said. "We have recruited student-athletes with not only great talent but good character as well."
Huber's list of accomplishments has come at all levels of diving. Some of his most prestige honors were with the 2000 and 2004 U.S. Olympic teams. Huber also has received the U.S. National Coach of the Year seven consecutive years from 1998-04. Huber, who's in his 17th year as head coach of the Hoosiers, never gets tired of his job.
"Each team is different from season to season, which is why I love coaching and working with student-athletes," Huber said. "Each team has its own personality. It's rewarding to watch the juniors and seniors step up and assume responsibility."
One of those seniors that have taken the leadership role is All-American Ryan Fagan. The IU diver has earned Academic All-Big Ten and CSCAA Scholar-Athlete honors. Fagan became only the third Hoosier in history to surpass the 380-point plateau in the 3-meter diving event. The impact Fagan made on the diving program is more than Huber could have hoped for.
"Ryan Fagan has been a tremendous asset to our program, not only this year as a senior and team captain, but every year," Huber said. "He is quiet but leads by example when he comes into practice everyday and gives his best effort. I only wish he were a freshman. It has been a real privilege to have worked with Ryan."
As the Hoosiers come to the end of the season, Huber prepares his team for the Big Ten Championships. Huber looks for his divers to reach the same goals that he always had for them.
"The expectations for my student-athletes are always the same," Huber said. "I want them to improve from the previous season and set personal records for themselves. If those performances lead to a win, that's even better."
Huber takes his squad into the Big Ten Championships with high hopes that this will help prepare them for the big stage, the NCAA Championships. Huber will take all 11 of his divers to the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, March 10-12 in Columbus, Ohio.
"The Big Ten Championships is always a good springboard for diving," Huber said. "The competition at the Big Ten gives us a good view of where we stand in the nation."
The No. 11 Indiana men's swimming and diving team is back in the water from Feb. 23-25 for the Big Ten Championships at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center in Bloomington, Ind.
