University Southern California Trojans
Players Mentioned
Diving
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Trojan Diving Coach Li (left) congratulates diver Caleb Dixon during USC's senior day.
Photo by: Katie Chin
Li Named 2020 Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year
March 27, 2020 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving, Features
Hongping Li, in his 21st year as USC's head diving coach, was named the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career (2009, 2016-18, 2020).
Li is a two-time NCAA Coach of the Year (2002, 2006), an 11-time Pac-12 Women's (2001-02-03-05-06-09-10-11-12-13-14) and now five-time Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year.
This season, Li led the Trojans to six top-eight finishes at the Pac-12 Diving Championships for a total of 95 points, a tie for first in the diving portion of the 2020 Conference Championships.
In September of 2019, Li was inducted into the World Acrobatic Society Hall of Fame which honors disciplines in gymnastics, diving, professional acrobatics, extreme sports, trampoline and tumbling.
Li has had sustained and broad success since joining the USC staff. He has directed nine men's and women's divers to a combined 42 All-American honors, eight NCAA titles and 36 conference titles. His USC divers have earned a combined 13 Pac-12 Diver of the Year honors and eight Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year awards.
Most recently, female diver Nike Agunbiade was selected as the Pac-12 Women's Freshman Diver of the Year after a stellar first season on the Trojan roster, bringing Li's Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year award count to eight. She recorded 77 total points at the Pac-12 Championships, the most of any freshman diver and third-most of all divers.
"Hongping is beyond dedicated to helping his athletes and the sport as a whole. In addition to his attention to detail, he instills in us a positive mindset that we are able to maintain throughout training and competition" said Agunbiade.
Li attended USC from 1985-89 and received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1989. He won an NCAA title in the 3-meter springboard 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 is a two-time NCAA Coach of the Year (2002, 2006), an 11-time Pac-12 Women's (2001-02-03-05-06-09-10-11-12-13-14) and now five-time Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year.
This season, Li led the Trojans to six top-eight finishes at the Pac-12 Diving Championships for a total of 95 points, a tie for first in the diving portion of the 2020 Conference Championships.
In September of 2019, Li was inducted into the World Acrobatic Society Hall of Fame which honors disciplines in gymnastics, diving, professional acrobatics, extreme sports, trampoline and tumbling.
Li has had sustained and broad success since joining the USC staff. He has directed nine men's and women's divers to a combined 42 All-American honors, eight NCAA titles and 36 conference titles. His USC divers have earned a combined 13 Pac-12 Diver of the Year honors and eight Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year awards.
Most recently, female diver Nike Agunbiade was selected as the Pac-12 Women's Freshman Diver of the Year after a stellar first season on the Trojan roster, bringing Li's Pac-12 Newcomer of the Year award count to eight. She recorded 77 total points at the Pac-12 Championships, the most of any freshman diver and third-most of all divers.
"Hongping is beyond dedicated to helping his athletes and the sport as a whole. In addition to his attention to detail, he instills in us a positive mindset that we are able to maintain throughout training and competition" said Agunbiade.
Li attended USC from 1985-89 and received a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1989. He won an NCAA title in the 3-meter springboard 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.
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