The University of Wisconsin announced on Friday that two-time Olympian Andrew Capobianco has joined the swimming and diving program as an assistant coach, where he will work with the divers.
The hire is the second coaching staff addition for newly-hired head coach Jack Brown, who announced the addition of Johno Fergusson, formerly of Southern Illinois, as an assistant swim coach just one day earlier.
“Andrew knows exactly what it takes to compete — and win — at the highest level,” said Brown in the university’s press release. “He’s been a force on the international stage for Team USA, and despite everything he’s accomplished, what stands out most is his love for coaching. He’s passionate about helping others grow and perform at their best. His energy and experience are going to take our diving program to the next level here in Madison.”
Capobianco brings a wealth of international and collegiate experience. He competed at Indiana University from 2017 to 2023, earning three Big Ten Diver of the Year awards (2019, 2021, 2022) and three NCAA 3-meter titles (2019, 2021, 2023). Over his collegiate career, he collected 12 All-American honors and five individual Big Ten championships. He also helped lead the Hoosiers to four Big Ten team titles.
In 2022, Capobianco achieved a rare feat by sweeping all three diving events at the Big Ten Championships—the first diver to do so since 2011. His accolades include three-time Big Ten Diver of the Championships, Indiana co-Male Athlete of the Year (2020–21), and multiple academic honors, such as the 2023 CSC Academic All-America Team Member of the Year and four Academic All-Big Ten selections.
On the international stage, Capobianco is a two-time Olympian, having competed at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024. He earned a silver medal in the 3-meter synchronized springboard at Tokyo and a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the 2019 World Championships. Additionally, he won two bronze medals at the 2019 Pan American Games in the 1-meter and synchronized 3-meter events. He is also a four-time USA Diving national champion, with three individual 3-meter titles and one synchronized 3-meter title.
His junior career was equally impressive, featuring two appearances on the World Junior Championships team (2014, 2016) and five junior national championships across multiple events, including the 1-meter (2014), 3-meter (2015), and platform (2014, 2015, 2016).
Since 2024, Capobianco has served as a High Performance coach with USA Diving, mentoring athletes on the national High Performance Squad based in Bloomington, Indiana. He has also been the head diving coach at the Johansen Diving Academy since 2022.
This hire ushers in a new wave of Wisconsin diving
Badgers end up routinely pulling in 200+ points on the boards at big tens
Secure their first podium finish in years, directly ahead of IU
I choose to believe this regardless of how unrealistic it is
Let’s go Badgers
One thing is for sure. You can count on the Badgers coaching staff to be all in for the swim and diving teams.
The coaching is absolutely fantastic, and even without Phoebe Bacon (who is an extraordinary swimmer) I’m sure the team can do great things. And even more so with divers.
Instant street cred.
Winners recruit and coach winners!
Per the press release, he is the head diving coach (assistant coach working with divers), not the assistant diving coach.
OK Now that that’s cleared up WELCOME TO THE BADGERS! Dr. Brown is glad to have you on the team..
Andrew welcome to the Badger family. Dive Wisconsin!
If there’s only one diving coach they’re not a head coach because they’ll aren’t in charge of anyone. People started hiring assistant dive coaches and every dive coach decided they want to be listed as head dive coach
He’s the dive coach which means Yahya is out: https://uwbadgers.com/news/2025/6/20/womens-swimming-diving-badgers-tab-andrew-capobianco-as-dive-coach.aspx
Yes I’m well aware, my point is hes an assistant coach, that coaches the divers.
The press release was a bit confusing, but we were able to nail it down with Wisconsin. He’s an “assistant coach – diving” and “the diving coach.” Wisconsin isn’t calling him the “head diving coach” but he occupies the role you’d normally see a head diving coach occupy. I think the very specific wording probably has to do with pay grades.
I left my comment because the original headline to this article said he was hired as the “assistant diving coach,” which would imply that there was already a “head diving coach” in place.
I know, sorry my point wasn’t arguing yours, and I believe Braden is correct that generally “head” or even “associate head” title will usually require a different pay grade.