Drew Livingston, a two-time NCAA champion and the 2012 NCAA Championships Diver of the Year, has been named the new head coach of Princeton Diving, it was announced by Mollie Marcoux, the Ford Family Princeton Director of Athletics.
Livingston, who coached at both Texas and LSU over the last three years, won the 2009 and 2012 NCAA championships on the 1-meter board, and he was a 10-time All-America during his undergraduate career at Texas, where he helped the Longhorns win the 2010 NCAA team championship.
“As you’ll see from résumé, Drew is a world class diver who has trained with the very best in the business,” Marcoux said. “He has a great passion for the sport and an equal passion for coaching. He is committed to building on our long tradition of success.”
Livingston’s coaching career began at his alma mater, where he worked daily with head coach Matt Scoggin in the practice planning and development of both collegiate and post-graduated divers. That 2013-14 season concluded with Texas freshman Michael Hixon earning the NCAA Championships Diver of the Meet honor — the same that Livingston won two years earlier.
Livingston spent the last two seasons as the graduate assistant coach at LSU, where he assisted in all phases of coaching, ranging from recruiting to practice sessions. In his two years, LSU divers broke three out of the six school records and scored the most team points in the 2015 SEC Championships.
“I’m excited and genuinely grateful for the opportunity to join the Princeton Swimming and Diving family,” Livingston said. “Princeton is a special institution with a rich history of academic and athletic success. I’m looking forward to working with some of the finest student-athletes in the world and helping them reach their goals in and out of the pool.
“After meeting with Mollie Marcoux, Rob Orr, and Susan Teeter, it was clear that our visions for the program were aligned and we meshed right from the start,” Livingston added. “I can’t wait to get to Princeton and get to work this summer.”
Livingston, whose sister Jessica was also an NCAA diving champion (platform, 2007), was an All-America honoree each year of his collegiate career. The 2011-12 team captain at Texas, he capped his Longhorn career by winning the 1-meter board with 448.10 points, taking second on the 3-meter board with 454.25 points, and placing fourth on the platform with 427.05 points.
The four-time Big 12 Most Outstanding Diver, Livingston set the NCAA and Big 12 record on the platform.
“We are very excited to have Drew join our Swimming & Diving family to continue the great tradition Princeton Diving,” women’s head coach Susan Teeter said. “He’s an impressive coach with a lot of energy and I have no doubt our divers will continue to thrive under his coaching.”
Besides his proficiency on the diving boards, Livingston excelled in the classroom as well. He was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree at Texas, as well as a NISCA All-American in high school, when he was named the 2008 National High School Diver of the Year.
“We are looking forward to having Drew join our PUCSDT family,” men’s assistant Michael Joyce said. “Drew knows this sport as well as anyone, and his experience and accomplishments as a diver go unmatched. Drew will bring knowledge as both an individual and NCAA team champion with him to Princeton and we’re excited to see how he can continue to help our team compete for Ivy championships while also rising in the national polls. We’re excited for the future”
Livingston replaces Greg Gunn, who announced his resignation after a successful 30-year stint with the Tiger diving teams. Gunn coached 30 individual Ivy League champions and nine All-America honorees throughout his Princeton career, and he helped the Tigers win 36 Ivy League swimming and diving team championships (19 men, 17 women) during his tenure.
Princeton Athletics contributed this report.
Great hire for Princeton!!!! Drew was an amazing asset for our swimming and diving program here at LSU for the past two years. Has an incredible way of connecting with athletes and enjoying their process of development and greatly grasps the dynamic of TEAM!!!!