Ron O'Brien

Ronald Shay O'Brien (March 14, 1938 – November 19, 2024) was a Hall of Fame American diving coach and author who dove for Ohio State University. He was the head diving coach at Ohio State from 1963 to 1978, later coaching the Mission Viejo Nadadores from 1978 to 1985, the Mission Bay Divers of Boca Raton from 1985 to 1990, and the City of Fort Lauderdale Diving Team from 1990 to 1996 . He coached diving for the U.S. Olympic team for eight successive Olympics from 1968 to 1996 and coached Olympic champion Greg Louganis and future Ohio State Diving Coach Vince Panzano. He began his athletic career as a diver at the YMCA of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended David B. Oliver High School in Pittsburgh's northside area, where he swam and dove throughout his years at the school. Competing for Oliver High School at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association State High School Swimming Championships, he placed second in diving on March 12, 1955, in University Park, Pennsylvania, though his team finished 8th overall. O'Brien placed eleventh in 10-meter platform diving with Gary Tobian taking first place. Only the top three qualified for the U.S. team.

Ohio State University diver As a diver at Ohio State University, under Hall of Fame Head Swimming and Diving Coach Mike Peppe, he earned a total of six varsity letters in diving and gymnastics. He was the NCAA national champion on 1 meter springboard in 1959. After completing his undergraduate studies, he was an AAU national champion on the 3 meter springboard in 1961. He earned All-America honors at Ohio State for his achievements on the one and three meter boards. He graduated Ohio State in 1959 with a B.A. degree in Physical Education, later earning his master's in 1961 from the university in the same field. In 1967, he earned a Phd. in Physical Education from Ohio State. After his college career, he worked as a performer in a professional water stunt show alongside fellow dive coach Dick Kimball.

Moving up in the national rankings for platform diving after competing at Ohio State, O'Brien placed fourth in 10-meter platform diving at the AAU Men's Outdoor Swimming and Diving Championships on July 25, 1960, prior to the Olympic trials.

1960 Olympic trials Continuing to compete at a high level after completing his B.A. from Ohio State, in 1960 he placed third in platform diving on August 5, at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Detroit with 154.7 points, around 5 points from seriously challenging for the Olympic berth from former 1956 Olympic Silver medalist in 10-meter platform diving, Gary Tobian who scored 159.69 points. Bob Webster of Michigan University won the platform diving trial in Detroit with 166.56 points. A stiff competitor, Webster would win the gold medal in 10-meter platform diving at the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Earlier, on August 2, O'Brien placed fourth in springboard diving finishing behind first place Sam Hall, a fellow Ohio State diver and future 1960 silver medalist in springboard diving, second place Gary Tobian, and third place Donald Harper, a fellow Ohio State diver and former 1956 Olympic silver medalist in the 3-meter springboard. The springboard dive scoring was very close after Sam Hall's first place 170.37 points. Unfortunately, in both events his score just missed the top two places required to qualify for the August Rome Olympic Games. O'Brien was disappointed in coming so close to making the U.S. team, but believed it helped later motivate him to work harder as a dive coach.

Coaching career After his time as an athlete ended, O'Brien started a career in coaching, while simultaneously pursuing graduate studies. He began with a brief stint as a Diving Coach at the University of Minnesota from 1962 to 1963. By 1986, O'Brien's Mission Bay divers won all 12 United States Diving individual National Titles, and 16 team titles. At the end of his tenure with the Fort Lauderdale team in 1996, he retired from coaching. O'Brien holds the record for producing at least one national champion in the most consecutive years, with a 23-year streak from 1973 to 1995.

Olympians coached

O'Brien's Olympic medalists included 3-meter springboard gold medalist Jennifer Chandler and 10-meter platform bronze medalist Debbie Keplar Wilson in the 1976 Games. He coached two-time 10-meter platform silver medalist Michele Mitchell who was an Olympian in both 1984 and 1988, and 1984 10-meter platform bronze medalist Wendy Wyland. He coached 10-meter platform silver medalist Scott Donie who medaled in 1992 and two-time 10-meter platform bronze medalist Mary Ellen Clark who competed in both the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. Greg Louganis, his best known Olympic medalist competed in diving in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics.

As an actor, O'Brien appeared on the Tonight Show With Johnny Carson in 1962, Yarns From Pidgeon Inlet in 1979, and Back on Board: Greg Louganis in 2014.

Retirement and death After retiring from coaching in 1996, O'Brien continued as the national technical director for USA Diving where he served from 1991 to 2004. He served as USA Diving's High Performance Director from 2004 until his retirement in 2008. He lived in Islamorada, Florida, with his wife. He was survived by his wife of over 60 years, the former Mary Jane Tollerton, a daughter, son and four grandchildren. His son was a 2000 U.S. Olympic Diving Team coach.

O'Brien also authored the book, Diving for Gold. Diving for Gold discusses mechanics for dives on the one-meter, and three-meter board, and the platform. It discusses O'Brien's philosophy on how divers can acquire the most a more effective mental approach to the sport.

He was one of the few diving coaches in the US Olympic Hall of Fame, when he was admitted in 2019. He was an inductee of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984 and The International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988. He was elected to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in his native state. Because of his history as both an athlete and coach at Ohio State, the school's diving well was named in his honor.

He was awarded the Mike Peppe Memorial Award 14 times as USA Diving Coach of the year, with his first instance in 1979, and his last time upon his year of retirement in 1996. He received the WHOSAM Award in 1993, for commitment to excellence and dedication in diving. He won the United States Olympic Committee's Diving Coach of the Year in 1996, and the Phil Boggs Award, presented for outstanding contributions to United States Diving.

He was a multi-year recipient of the Mike Pepper Award from 1979 to 1987, won the Malone Memorial Award in 1974, and in 1976 was presented with the Fred Cady Award.