Legendary Olympic and Michigan Diving Coach Dick Kimball Passes at the Age of 91

Former University of Michigan and US Olympic Diving Coach Dick Kimball has died at the age of 91.

Kimball, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, spent 44 years on staff in Ann Arbor as the head coach of the Wolverines’ diving program, from 1959 to 2002. His teams captured seven Big Ten Conference championships and four NCAA Championships during his tenure.

Four of Kimball’s divers with Michigan would go on to claim Olympic golds, including Bob Webster in 1960 and 1964, Micki King in 1972, Phil Boggs in 1976, and Mark Lenzi in 1992. Two more of his divers went on to become Olympic silver medalists: Dick Rydze in 1972 and his son, Bruce Kimball, in 1984. Rounding out the Olympic podium, both Ron Merriott and Chris Seufert, both coached by Kimball, secured 1984 bronze medals in Los Angeles. Three other divers won NCAA Championships under Kimball, including Matthew Chelich (1-meter in 1977 and 3-meter in 1979), Merriott (3-meter in 1982), and Kent Ferguson (3-meter in 1984).

Kimball coached women’s tiding at Michigan for 17 years before Title IX, including the aforementioned Micki King, who won ten national championships between 1965 and 1972. He also coached three women to Big Ten women’s diver of the year honors: Diane Dudeck (1984), Mary Fishback (1988), and Carrie Zarse (1995).

The University of Michigan posted a tribute to the legendary coach on Instagram on April 26.

We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of legendary diving coach Dick Kimball — a true Michigan man, icon of our sport, and one of the most influential figures in collegiate diving history. His extraordinary legacy includes decades of excellence at Michigan, countless championships, Olympians, and generations of athletes shaped by his wisdom, passion, and leadership. Coach Kimball built a standard of greatness that continues to define Michigan Diving, and his impact on this program and the sport will be felt for generations. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.

In addition to his collegiate successes as a coach, Kimball also led several USS Olympic Diving teams, first being named head coach in 1964, where his divers secured 8 of the 12 possible Olympic medals in Tokyo. He was also a coach on the US Olympic teams in 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992.

As an athlete, Kimball won three NCAA titles as a Wolverine at the 1957 NCAA Championships, winning the 1-meter, 3-meter, and team diving events. While still diving at Michigan, Kimball competed for the Michigan gymnastics team, where he won a national trampoline title. In 1963, Kimball won the Professional World Diving Championship in 1963. Before his collegiate and professional success, Kimball was a Minnesota High School state champion diver from 1952 to 1956.

His accolades in the sport earned him honors as a member of both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 1985, and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also honored in the USA Diving Rings of Honor Hall of Fame as a distinguished coach.

Kimball aliso served as the President of the American Diving Coaches Association, and was a member of the US Diving Olympic Committee and Rules Committee for US Diving following his coaching and competing days.

Kimball also ran his own diving camp in Brandon, Florida for 23 summers.

His full obituary can be found here.

A mass will be held at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor on May 9th at 11:00 am, with a visitation occuring before at 10:00 am. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.