DiNicola Named Diving Coach at Nebraska

Jeff DiNicola

Lincoln -- University of Nebraska head swimming and diving coach Pablo Morales announced on Tuesday that he has hired former New Mexico diving coach Jeff DiNicola to fill an open position on his staff.

?Jeff's coaching experience and proven ability will not only insure a smooth and successful transition for our diving program, but it will also help serve the national objectives of this program,' Morales said. ?He has extensive experience and a very impressive track record, and he is certainly one of the outstanding young coaches in the nation.'

DiNicola is looking forward to joining the Nebraska swimming and diving program.

?This program has the chance to be successful and to be dominant at the NCAA level,' DiNicola said. ?I'm looking forward to the opportunities and I'm looking forward to working with Pablo.'

DiNicola comes to Nebraska after three seasons at New Mexico (2000-2003). At UNM he had at least one diver compete at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships each of the past three years, including a pair of divers the last two seasons. Last season, DiNicola coached Becca Barras to a Mountain West title on the one meter and Tracey Berghian to a league title on the three meter. With DiNicola's guidance, the duo earned co-Mountain West Conference Divers of the Year honors. In 2003, DiNicola was named MWC diving coach of the year.

More impressively, DiNicola was hired in 1999 to revive the Lobos diving program which had been dormant for five seasons.

?It is very impressive what Jeff, in a span of three seasons, was able to do with a previously non-existent program,' Morales said. ?It bodes very well for his future here at the University of Nebraska.'

Prior to arriving in Albuquerque, DiNicola also coached at his alma mater, Southwest Missouri State, where he earned Missouri Valley Coach of the Year honors in 2000.

A three-time MVC selection at Southwest Missouri State, DiNicola was a two-time conference diver of the year honoree (1996, 1999), and also set a pool record on the three meter.

DiNicola received his degree from SMS in 2000 in drafting and design architectural and mechanical, with a minor in construction. He is married to the former Vanessa Hunt.