TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Chuck Wade has been hired as the Crimson Tide’s diving coach, Alabama swimming and diving head coach Dennis Pursley announced this week. Wade comes to the Crimson Tide after coaching at Pine Crest Preparatory School and serving as a volunteer coach at Florida State.
“During his athletic career, Chuck Wade was a multiple time All American, national champion and USA national team member who was coached by two of the most iconic coaches in the history of the sport,” Pursley said. “He certainly knows what the pursuit of excellence is all about.”
Wade is slated to start with the Crimson Tide on August 1, replacing Pat Greenwell, who retired after 29 years as Alabama’s diving coach in early July.
“I have always been amazed at the quality of excellence that Alabama demands,” Wade said. “My goals are to be the best coach and person that I can possibly be. I have very high standards and expectations so it is a no brainer that I chose to coach at a place that has the same mindset. I am honored to have been chosen to be a part of the Alabama swimming and diving family.”
2016 United States Olympian Amy Cozad, who Wade worked with during the summer of 2014, said, “I have the upmost respect Chuck Wade. He is a hard-working coach who goes the extra mile for his athletes.”
An 11-year member of the United States National Team, Wade was an All-American, four-time ACC champion and a two-time ACC Diver of Year at Clemson. He graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s of Science. Wade also won multiple U.S. national titles during his prolific diving career.
Internationally, he was the Swedish Cup platform champion and competed as part of Team USA at the Pan American Games as well as several World Cup events and the World Aquatic Championships. He also served as an athlete representative to United States Diving.
During his coaching career, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan as well as an eight-year stint as League City Diving Institute’s head coach in League City, Texas before moving to Florida in 2014.
“As a professional coach, Chuck has earned the highest degree of respect from many of the top coaches and athletes in the sport of diving,” Pursley said. “He is recognized for his technical knowledge and his unconditional commitment to his divers. He will play an integral role in our ongoing mission of establishing a culture of excellence that will enable our athletes to achieve their full potential in the pool, in the classroom and in life.”
Swimming news courtesy of Alabama Swimming & Diving.
Coach Wade is an incredible addition to the swimming and diving program. The diving teams will immediately experience improvement. He is an amazing technician and has valuable international experience. Welcome to Tuscaloosa and RTR. I am excited about the future of BAMA diving.
Nice hire. I hope swimswam keeps posting articles about diving as well. Like it or not, it is very much a factor in the NCAA swimming world and is important to know what is going on. Rumor also has it that Ohio University’s diving coach, Chelsea Ale, has left the program.