| Minnesota Diving Academy is a springboard and platform diving club that offers advanced coaching to divers of all levels. It operates out of the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center and is owned by Wenbo Chen the current University of Minnesota Head Diving Coach and former Olympic and Team USA Diving Coach. |
Wenbo Chen (Owner/Head Diving Coach)
Coach Chen has guided 15 senior national champions, 12 junior national champions and two world cup
medalists in addition to three Olympians. Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, Chen served in several key
coaching roles, including a four-year tenure as the head coach at Purdue (2001-05) and seven years as a
coach with the Chinese National Team and the Chinese Olympic Training Camp (1985-92). He was named
assistant coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for diving after three of his divers were named to the
squad - Haley Ishimatsu on 10-meter and synchronized 10-meter, and Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse in
synchronized 3-meter. In 2007, Chen served as a USA coach at the World Championships and Pan
American Games as well as several other international meets. His divers claimed four of the seven U.S.
medals won at the 2007 Pan Am Games, highlighted by silver medals from Ishimatsu on 10-meter and
Bryant/Rittenhouse in synchronized 3-meter. He was also a coach at the 2008 World Cup in Beijing, where
Bryant and Rittenhouse won a bronze medal in synchro.
medalists in addition to three Olympians. Prior to arriving in Indianapolis, Chen served in several key
coaching roles, including a four-year tenure as the head coach at Purdue (2001-05) and seven years as a
coach with the Chinese National Team and the Chinese Olympic Training Camp (1985-92). He was named
assistant coach for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for diving after three of his divers were named to the
squad - Haley Ishimatsu on 10-meter and synchronized 10-meter, and Kelci Bryant and Ariel Rittenhouse in
synchronized 3-meter. In 2007, Chen served as a USA coach at the World Championships and Pan
American Games as well as several other international meets. His divers claimed four of the seven U.S.
medals won at the 2007 Pan Am Games, highlighted by silver medals from Ishimatsu on 10-meter and
Bryant/Rittenhouse in synchronized 3-meter. He was also a coach at the 2008 World Cup in Beijing, where
Bryant and Rittenhouse won a bronze medal in synchro.
His divers also won three national championships in 2007, most notable being Ishimatsu's win on 10-meter at
the Speedo USA Diving Spring National Championships when the then-14-year-old defeated 2000 Olympic
gold medalist Laura Wilkinson to win on 10-meter title. From 1996-2001, Chen coached at Moss Farms
Diving in Moultrie, Ga., where he guided a number of national champions - including Bryant's older sister Katie
Beth, who was a two-time senior national champion and NCAA All-American. Many of Chen's divers
represented the United States in World Championships and other international competitions, both at the junior
and senior level.
the Speedo USA Diving Spring National Championships when the then-14-year-old defeated 2000 Olympic
gold medalist Laura Wilkinson to win on 10-meter title. From 1996-2001, Chen coached at Moss Farms
Diving in Moultrie, Ga., where he guided a number of national champions - including Bryant's older sister Katie
Beth, who was a two-time senior national champion and NCAA All-American. Many of Chen's divers
represented the United States in World Championships and other international competitions, both at the junior
and senior level.
Chen immigrated to the U.S. from China in 1992. Before leaving his native country, he served as a national
team coach from 1983-1991 and coached six Olympic medalists, including two-time gold medalists Ni
Xiong and Ming Gao, and many national champions.
team coach from 1983-1991 and coached six Olympic medalists, including two-time gold medalists Ni
Xiong and Ming Gao, and many national champions.
As a diver, he won a junior national title on 3-meter in 1976 and from 1977-1982, he was a finalist at the
senior national level. Chen earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Beijing Sports University in
1987.
senior national level. Chen earned a bachelor's degree in physical education at Beijing Sports University in
1987.
E-Mail: wenbo.chen@mndivingacademy.com Phone: (651) 592-7460
Mike Hilber (Assistant Coach)
E-Mail: mike.hilber@mndivingacademy.com Phone: (651) 485-3891
Kaitlin Vorwald (H.S. Coach/Age Group Coach)
Kaitlin has been a club diving coach in Wisconsin and Minnesota for the past 7 years. Prior to coming to the
Minnesota Diving Academy she coached the JO team for Twin City Divers for 3 years where she coached
several nationally ranked divers. In Wisconsin she coached club for Mad City Divers, coaching 4 divers to
Junior Nationals and was a summer diving coach for Highpoint Swim Club for 2 summers. She is from
Madison, WI and was an elite gymnast for 7 years where she competed on the Junior National Team winning
4 Junior National titles and medaled in several international assignments. After an injury ended her career she
switched to diving. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in December of 2006, where
she competed as a Division I diver and was a 4 time academic all American. She moved to Minnesota after
college to pursue a career in business at Target Headquarters.
Minnesota Diving Academy she coached the JO team for Twin City Divers for 3 years where she coached
several nationally ranked divers. In Wisconsin she coached club for Mad City Divers, coaching 4 divers to
Junior Nationals and was a summer diving coach for Highpoint Swim Club for 2 summers. She is from
Madison, WI and was an elite gymnast for 7 years where she competed on the Junior National Team winning
4 Junior National titles and medaled in several international assignments. After an injury ended her career she
switched to diving. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in December of 2006, where
she competed as a Division I diver and was a 4 time academic all American. She moved to Minnesota after
college to pursue a career in business at Target Headquarters.
E-Mail: klvorwald@gmail.com Phone: (608) 215-4341
Lessons are held at the University of
Minnesota Aquatic Center. The facilities is
one of the best in country with top of the line
equipment. There is a heated diving well and
hot tub. The pool also is equipped with a
bubbler system under the 3M boards and
Platform.
Equipment:
Minnesota Aquatic Center. The facilities is
one of the best in country with top of the line
equipment. There is a heated diving well and
hot tub. The pool also is equipped with a
bubbler system under the 3M boards and
Platform.
Equipment:
- Two 1M Duraflex
Springboards - Two 3M Duraflex
Springboards - Full Tower: 1M,
5M, 7.5M, 10M - Dry-board w/
Belts - Trampoline w/ Belts
University of Minnesota Aquatic Center 1910 University Avenue SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Mike has been coaching diving for more than two decades. During Mike's tenure as the Head Coach of
Minnesota Diving Club from 1996 to 2004, Coach for Twin City Divers from 2004 to 2006 and Coach with
ABC Diving, he has coached many nationally ranked junior and senior divers, and JO national qualifiers.
Mike was also the Volunteer Assistant Diving coach for the University of Minnesota from 1996 to 2007 and
again in 2009 -2011 where he has been on 8 Big Ten Championship teams and assisted in the coaching of
Big 10 Champion, All- American and NCAA Champion Kelci Bryant, 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier PJ
Bogart, Big Ten Champions and All - Americans TD Rowe and Dan Croasten and All - Americans Tracy
LaVoi, Rebecca Cornthwaite, Shaun Kennedy and Drew Brown. As the former head diving coach for
Anoka High School, Edina High School and Elk River High School he has also coached many Minnesota
high school All-American divers, and high school state meet qualifiers including the 1999 and 2007 Girls State
Champion. Mike serves as the General Chairman of Minnesota Diving Association of US Diving, has served
as a member of the US Diving Grassroots Committee and a Certifier for the US Diving Safety Training
Courses. Mike teaches in the Anoka School district.
Minnesota Diving Club from 1996 to 2004, Coach for Twin City Divers from 2004 to 2006 and Coach with
ABC Diving, he has coached many nationally ranked junior and senior divers, and JO national qualifiers.
Mike was also the Volunteer Assistant Diving coach for the University of Minnesota from 1996 to 2007 and
again in 2009 -2011 where he has been on 8 Big Ten Championship teams and assisted in the coaching of
Big 10 Champion, All- American and NCAA Champion Kelci Bryant, 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier PJ
Bogart, Big Ten Champions and All - Americans TD Rowe and Dan Croasten and All - Americans Tracy
LaVoi, Rebecca Cornthwaite, Shaun Kennedy and Drew Brown. As the former head diving coach for
Anoka High School, Edina High School and Elk River High School he has also coached many Minnesota
high school All-American divers, and high school state meet qualifiers including the 1999 and 2007 Girls State
Champion. Mike serves as the General Chairman of Minnesota Diving Association of US Diving, has served
as a member of the US Diving Grassroots Committee and a Certifier for the US Diving Safety Training
Courses. Mike teaches in the Anoka School district.