Photo by Kate Nuelle
Stan Randall is in his 18th season as head diving coach at Trinity, but he brings in 53 years of overall experience coaching the sport. While leading the Tigers, Randall has seen three of his divers win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Women’s Championships, while 10 divers have earned All-American honors. Randall is the current President of the Professional Diving Coaches Association as well as the co-founder of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Diving in the United States. Two weeks ago the Tigers won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Swimming & Diving Championships, where Randall coached his divers to a sweep of the Divers of the Meet awards. Randall also helped the Tigers earn the Coaching Staff of the Year title, and as four divers head to the NCAA Division III Region Two Championships this weekend, Randall discussed what’s been another successful year of his career.
What impressed you the most at the SCAC Swimming & Diving Championships?
The fact that the entire team performed to the best of their capabilities, all in the same weekend. This group is one of the most talented to come through Trinity. They have the tools to qualify for the NCAAs, [and] to win the NCAAs.
How do you compare your time at Trinity with the places you’ve gotten to coach worldwide in your 53 years of coaching?
It’s been such an incredible atmosphere with the equipment, coaches, support [and] budgets.
What made you want to become president of the Professional Diving Coaches Association?
The sport has been so fragmented since the ’80s, that the coaches have no direction on education on technique. It’s been a learn-as-you-go for many of these new coaches, and it’s time to unite all the coaches educationally, technically [and] professionally.
What’s the first thing you tell a new diver on your team?
Dream big, work for that dream, and it will come about.
What’s something you wish the casual fan knew more about diving as a sport?
It’s a very safe, fun sport that can open doors to colleges. They have no idea that they will have healthy, physical bodies, and it will teach them goal-setting skills that will last forever.
How did you become interested in diving?
I watched divers at Ohio State, and gymnasts. I was a gymnastics coach for 16 years, and we bounced trampoline at the rec center on weekends, and one just led to another.
How has it felt having three of your divers win the NCAA Division III Women’s Championships?
Well, I had many national champions before Trinity, but the feeling is the same. It’s like the culmination of all that work with that athlete, and the athletes were exceptional. They would come in early, stay late, do everything I said.
If you were stranded on an island with one person, who would you choose to be with and why?
My sister Jackie. She understands me better than anybody.
What three people would you invite to your dream dinner party?
My parents and Nancy Curry. She passed away this year. She was a partner I had in motivational seminars.
What would you eat at this dinner?
Lobster.
If you could tell the world one thing about yourself, what would you say?
Honesty, integrity and loyalty.
What show, movie or artist do you publicly dislike but secretly love?
“The Boondock Saints.” It’s a movie. The first time I saw it I thought, “Are you kidding me? They produced this movie?” It’s a very violent movie, but the results justified the means.
