Courtesy: UNLV Athletics
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV swimming and diving head coach Ben Loorz announced the hiring of Rachel Pearson as an assistant diving coach Thursday.
“Our Rebel diving program is on the rise and the addition of Rachel is indicative of that,” said Loorz. “I’m happy that our growing diver squad will be able to benefit from having her and Coach Anne [Schwemmer] partnering to guide them toward success.”
Pearson jumps into the collegiate coaching ranks after serving as an assistant coach for local club Team Rebel Aquatics Diving since 2022. Additionally, she has been a judge at several USA Junior Diving competitions.
Originally from Los Angeles, Pearson brings over four years of coaching experience to the Scarlet & Gray springboards. Along with her recent role, she spent two stints (2007-09; 2016-17) as an assistant coach under Olympic bronze medalist Deliang Li for Arrow Dive Club in El Monte, California.
“I’m so grateful to be joining the UNLV staff. Thank you to Coach Ben for affording me this opportunity. I’m looking forward to gaining more knowledge, experience, and high-level expertise from Coach Anne. Go Rebels!”
In addition to coaching, Pearson was a professional high diver for an 11-year period spanning 2009-20 on cruise ships and overseas. Among her career roles, she created, was captain of and performed for four of Royal Caribbean’s largest cruise ships, The House of Dancing Water in China and Cirque Du Soleil at Creactive in the Dominican Republic.
A former student-athlete, Pearson competed as a diver collegiately at UC Irvine, where she was a three-time NCAA qualifier and named a U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete in 2005. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior in 2009.
An amazing talent who coaches athletes with perfection in mind! GREAT HIRE