University Southern California Trojans
USC Hires New Diving Coach
June 21, 1999 | Men's Swimming & Diving
June 17, 1999
Los Angeles - NCAA champion and two-time Olympian Hongping Li, the 1998 U.S. Olympic Committee's "Diving Developmental Coach of the Year," has been named USC's head diving coach, Trojan men's and women's swimming coach Mark Schubert announced today.
"Hongping is one of the finest young coaches in the country," Schubert said. "He's had spectacular results at the club level at Mission Viejo. He comes from a great tradition of diving, which gives a tremendous new aspect to our program. He's also a USC graduate and a former NCAA champion, so he knows our tradition here as well."
Li, 36, was named the 1998 U.S. Diving Outstanding Age Group Coach of the Year, was a U.S. team coach at the 1998 World Diving Championships, the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1997 World Junior Championships, and earned the Coach of Excellence award at the 1995 Senior National Championships. He is also a voting member of the International Olympic Committee.
He comes to USC after serving as the head coach of the Mission Viejo (Calif.) Nadadores Diving Team since 1993. While at Mission Viejo, he produced seven Junior National champions who won a combined 20 individual titles. Among the elite divers Li coached was Erica Sorgi, who has captured five senior national titles since 1996.
Li led the Nadadores to the 1998 Junior National Championships team title as well as every Western National team title since 1996. He served as an assistant coach at Mission Viejo from 1989-93, helping the club to consecutive junior team titles from 1991-93.
Originally from Beijing, Li was a 12-time national champion and a two-time Olympian while competing for China. He finished fourth on the 3-meter springboard at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and earned gold medals on the platform at the 1981 FINA World Cup in Mexico City and the 1981 World University Games. He also competed in the 1980 Olympics.
Li attended USC from 1986-89 and received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1989. He won an NCAA title in the platform as a freshman in 1986 and earned All-American honors in the 1-meter springboard. He also earned Pac-10 titles in the 1- and 3-meter springboards that same year. He was not eligible to compete after 1986 because of an NCAA age rule.
Li replaces Jeff Shaffer, who left USC after four years to coach at Auburn.
