Coaches
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mike Hilber (JO Coach)
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.
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.
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.
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.