Swimming and Diving Hires Chris Waters as New Assistant Coach
6/3/2004 4:35:48 PM | Swimming / Diving
Chris Waters has been hired as the new assistant men's and women's swimming and diving coach. Waters replaces Jeff Keck, who retired after 22 seasons at Syracuse.
Waters comes to Syracuse after one season as head diving coach at Southwest Missouri State University. Previously he coached at Connecticut College, Virginia Tech and was a graduate assistant diving coach with Southwest Missouri State. During his first stint with Southwest Missouri State in 1996, Waters helped revitalize the men's program while building the University's first women's diving program. During his three years with the Bears, Waters coached a male diver to two Missouri Valley Conference honors and was also named the Missouri Valley Conference Diving Coach of the Year in 1999.
Waters first head coaching job was at Connecticut College, where he coached a diver at the 2000 NCAA Division III Championship who earned honorable mention All-America honors.
During his tenure with the Hokies, he helped numerous divers to top 10 finishes at The BIG EAST Conference Championship. He also coached six Academic All-Conference student-athletes.
Waters then returned to Southwest Missouri State. In 2004, the women's swimming and diving team captured the Missouri Valley Conference championship title, while the men finished second.
A native of Hudson Falls, New York, Waters received his bachelor degree in criminal justice and social sciences from Castleton College. While at Southwest Missouri State, he earned his masters degree in health promotion and wellness management. He is currently a member of United States Diving.
Waters enjoyed an outstanding prep diving career at Hudson Falls High. He finished first at sectionals in 1987 and was runner-up in 1985 and 1986. He also competed at the New York Empire State Games in 1986, finishing seventh in the one-meter diving event and ninth in the three-meter.
Keck retired as SU's diving coach in April after 22 seasons with the Orange. He coached Samantha Linke to NCAA appearances in 1997 and 1998. In 2001, he guided Julie Van Deusen to a seventh-place finish on the three-meter board at the NCAA Zone "A" Diving Championship.
