Marc Cahalane Named Head Diving Coach At Akron

Courtesy: Akron Athletics

AKRON, Ohio — The University of Akron swimming and diving program named Marc Cahalane as head diving coach, Zips’ head coach Brian Peresie announced on Monday.

“We are delighted to welcome Marc Cahalane back to the Mid-American Conference and to the Zips’ Swimming and Diving Family,” Peresie said. “Marc has a strong reputation in the aquatics community for developing outstanding divers that have matured into outstanding NCAA student-athletes. His efforts have also provided opportunities for him to serve as a coach for the National Junior Team representing Team USA at multiple international competitions. We are fortunate to have Marc in our program and it will be very exciting to watch him elevate the level of our program.”

Cahalane comes to Akron as the head diving coach and owner of the American Flyers Diving Club in Hudson, Ohio. Since taking over the American Flyers in 2007, the club has grown to become a nationally ranked and internationally recognized entity in the diving world.

“First and foremost, thank you to my wife Celina and my family for their support of my passion for coaching,” Cahalane said. “I am appreciative of Larry Williams, Brian Peresie and the Zips’ Athletic Department for their leadership and trust in me to mentor the student-athletes in the swimming and diving program. It is a blessing to come full circle and be part of the community where I grew up. Joining Zips Nation is an exciting new chapter in my coaching career and I am looking forward to working with the team to explore their academic and athletic potential.”

Cahalane coached diving continuously since 1996 at the high school and club (USA Diving and AAU) levels in both Ohio and Colorado. He began his coaching career at Glen Oak High School in Canton, Ohio, and later moved to Nordonia High School in Macedonia. He also served as an assistant coach for the American Flyers Diving Club, under the previous owner from 1996-2004. In 2004, he and his wife moved to Colorado where he served as an assistant coach for Mile High Dive Club in Denver. Cahalane started his own diving club in Boulder called the Flatirons Diving Club, and coached many high schools in the area.

A 1996 graduate of Ohio University with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Cahalane was a four-year varsity member of the swimming and diving team. Upon graduation, he spent three years diving professionally at Sea World of Ohio in the high dive stunt show.

Originally born in Boston, Massachusetts, Cahalane enjoyed experiencing many different cultures as a young person. Soon after he was born, his family moved to Amiens, France and then to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (previously Zaire) for just over 5 years. His family then moved to Casablanca, Morocco for another 5 years. After living in Morocco, they moved to Akron, Ohio where he attended Copley High School and began his diving career.

Coach Cahalane and his wife, Celina, have two children: Rowan (14) and Mira (12).

Career Highlights 

USA Olympic Team Trials

•         2 Qualifiers (2020)

USA Senior National Championships
•         7th Place Men’s Team (2019)
•         11th Place Combined Men’s and Women’s Team (2019)
•         2 USA Senior National Silver Medals
•         2 USA Senior National Bronze Medals
•         16 USA Senior National Championship Qualifiers
•         17 USA Senior National Championship Finalists
•         5 USA Synchro National Championship Qualifiers
•         2 USA Synchro National Championship Finalists

USA Junior Nationals

•         Junior National Team Finishes
o    2019 – Boys Team (National Runners Up)
o    2019 – Combined Team (7th)
o    2018 – Boys Team (National Champions)
o    2018 – Combined Team (7th)
o    2017 – Boys Team (5th)
o    2017 – Boys Synchro Team (8th)
o    2017 – Girls Synchro Team (6th)
o    2017 – Combined Synchro Team (7th)
•         3 High Performance USA National Junior Team Members
•         6 USA Junior National Gold Medals
•         4 USA Junior National Silver Medals
•         8 USA Junior National Bronze Medals
•         4 Junior World Championship Trials Qualifiers
•         8 Junior World Championship Trials Finalists – 1 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze
•         8 USA Synchro National Championship Finalists
•         Over 50 Junior National Qualifiers and Finalists

International Experience

•         2019 World University Games Qualifier – Naples, Italy
•         2019 Canada Cup Qualifier – Calgary, Canada
•         2018 Junior World Championships Qualifier – Kiev, Ukraine
•         2018 Junior World Championships – Team USA Coach
•         2017 Junior Pan American Games, 2 Qualifiers – Victoria, British Columbia Canada
•         2017 Junior Pan American Games – Team USA Coach – Victoria, British Columbia Canada
•         2017 Dresden Youth International Meet Qualifier – Dresden, Germany
•         2017 Dresden Youth International Meet – Team USA Coach
•         2015 Junior Pan American Games Qualifier – Matanzas, Cuba
•         2015 Canada Camo International Invitational meet – Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist

Miscellaneous (High School, Club Alumni)

•         Club Coach of the 2020 B1G TEN Conference Champion on Platform, Runner up on 1-Meter and 3rd Place Finisher on 3-Meter
•         Club Coach of the 2020 BIG 12 3rd Place Finisher on Platform
•         10 State Champions, 9 silver, 8 bronze
•         157 State qualifiers, 119 State finalists and 27 total medalists
•         2019 All-American Champion and numerous All-American Athletes
•         Placed 52 athletes in 37 colleges and universities to date and counting