Tulane Athletics Names Christopher Waters Diving Coach
Jul 21, 2005 | Women's Swimming and Diving
July 21, 2005
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Ten-year coaching veteran Christopher Waters was named assistant coach for diving at Tulane University, head swimming and diving coach Daniella Irle announced Thursday.
A native of Hudson Falls, N.Y., Waters brings a wealth of experience and a wake of success with him to the Green Wave program. During his coaching career, which includes seven seasons at the Division I level, Waters has coached a pair of conference Divers of the Year, three conference individual champions, 13 all-conference performers, six academic all-conference honorees and a pair of All-Americans. Waters replaces Chris Devine, who left coaching to pursue a career outside of athletics.
"I am thrilled to have a coach with Christopher's credentials join the Green Wave family," Irle said. "His track record of success speaks for itself. He's coached All-Americans and conference champions, and his student-athletes perform well both in the pool and in the classroom. Christopher will be a valuable asset to this year's team as we will look to defend our conference title."
Prior to joining the Green Wave, Waters spent the 2004-05 season as the diving coach at Syracuse where he oversaw both the men's and women's diving teams. Highlights from his teams' performances from a year ago including a female freshman setting a school record in the one-meter springboard, scoring a Top 10 in the BIG EAST Championship and qualifying for the Zone A Diving Championships.
He began his coaching career in 1994 at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he oversaw daily aspects of the NCAA Division III diving program, conducted pool workouts, coordinated the strength and conditioning programs for the team, recruited and held diving clinics. During the summers from 1997-98, Waters served as co-head coach of the Springfield Area Diving Team where he conducted team practices and scheduled competitions for approximately 15-20 U.S. Diving athletes.
Waters' first Division I coaching job was at Southwest Missouri State where he served as the graduate assistant diving coach from 1996-99. In three years with the Bears, Waters twice coached the Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Year and was awarded the MVC Diving Coach of the Year honors in 1999. In addition, two male divers qualified for the 1999 NCAA Division I Regional Diving Championship.
From there, Waters moved on to Connecticut College in New London, Conn., where he served as head diving coach and assistant aquatics director where he directed and managed the Division III diving program and assisted with the daily operations of the school's natatorium.
After a season in Connecticut, Waters joined the staff at Virginia Tech for two seasons (2000-02) where he oversaw all facets of the diving program - including training and recruiting for the diving team, assisting with strength and conditioning, and monitored the student-athletes' academic progression - during which time two divers earned All-America honors, and four posted Top 10 scores at the BIG EAST Championship.
He returned to Southwest Missouri State for the 2003-04 season as the head diving coach and helped three divers earn first-team All-MVC honors and another two earn honorable mention recognition.
An accomplished diver in his own right, Waters enjoyed an outstanding prep career at Hudson Falls High where he won the 1987 sectional meet and finished runner-up in 1985 and 1986. He also competed at the New York Empire State Games in 1986, finishing seventh in the one-meter springboard and ninth in the three-meter event.
Waters graduated summa cum laude with a degree in criminal justice and social sciences from Castleton State College in May 1991, and completed his master's degree in health promotion and wellness management from Southwest Missouri State in August 2002.
