Courtesy: Team USA
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Today, during the 2020 Olympic Team Trials-Diving, USA Diving (USAD) and Indian River State College (IRSC), announced the move of the sport’s executive offices to the College’s main campus in Fort Pierce, Florida, where the two parties plan to strategically develop facilities and resources designed to support athlete and coach development and the growth of diving in the United States. The partnership greatly expands the ability for the National Governing Body to deliver on its mission to champion, support and grow the sport of diving in the United States and support USAD athletes in achieving excellence in diving and beyond. The news was made public by USAD President Lee Michaud, USAD Board Chair Dave Gascon, and IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore.
Under the agreement, the parties will jointly raise funds to construct a world-class, international diving facility on the Indian River State College Fort Pierce campus; create a Coach Development Center to serve as USA Diving’s centralized educational platform for the systematic development of all levels of USAD coaches, divers and judges; develop state-of-the-art training facilities where USAD athletes, coaches and personnel can improve their performance through access to enhanced data-driven technologies; andfully leverage the commitment of both the College and USAD to expand diversity and inclusivity in the sport. The partners will explore other collaborative activities, including the use of student interns to provide additional USAD support.
“Partnering with Indian River State College advances our purpose meaningfully and significantly,” states Lee Michaud, President of USA Diving. “IRSC has a storied swimming and diving franchise and an unrivaled commitment to developing student-athletes in the sport. This partnership brings the prospect of a home for USA Diving with access to exceptional facilities surrounded by a proactive academic environment setting that supports a holistic approach to developing well-rounded athletes and coaches. This approach aligns with our vision for developing Champion Divers and Champion People. This is the perfect time to partner with Indian River State College in that shared vision.”
Indian River State College is centrally located on Florida’s Treasure Coast midway between major population centers of Orlando and West Palm Beach. The College is a nationally recognized leader in education and innovation—it is a recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges—and is one of the most affordable colleges in the nation. IRSC holds the longest unbroken U.S. championship-winning streak in any sport at the collegiate level with 47 consecutive NJCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving titles and 39 consecutive NJCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving titles (43 overall women’s titles). The College’s five campuses serve more than 26,000 students annually. In support of its mission to make education broadly accessible, in December 2020, IRSC received a $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott as part of her giving pledge.
“We’re delighted to house the USA Diving headquarters here at IRSC and assist in their efforts to recapture America’s position as the top nation in the sport,” shares IRSC President Dr. Timothy Moore. “The project has enormous upsides for our students and employees and direct economic impact for the communities that we serve. We look forward to hosting international competitions on our campuses, providing a path to the Olympics for our student-athletes, collaborating on the development of an educational platform for USAD coaches and judges, and attracting new audiences to the sport of diving.”
USA Diving expects to open its new IRSC-based headquarters this fall and is finalizing plans for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus.
