Hongping Li - Women's Swimming & Diving Coach

Hongping Li

Title:
Head Diving Coach
Email:
hpl@usc.edu
Phone:
(213) 740-8445

Hongping Li, an NCAA champion and two-time Olympian who has been one of the most successful NCAA coaches for over two decades, enters his 27^th season as USC's head diving coach. He was named to the position on July 1, 1999, and is currently USC’s longest running head coach.

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 is a two-time NCAA Coach of the Year (2002, 2006), a 12-time Pac-12 Women’s (2001-02-03-05-06-09-10-11-12-13-14-21) and six-time Pac-12 Men’s (2009, 2016-17-18-20-23) Diving Coach of the Year. The winner of the 1998 and 1999 United States Olympic Committee’s “Diving Developmental Coach of the Year” award, he came to USC after serving as the head coach of the Mission Viejo (Calif.) Nadadores Diving Team since 1993.

Li has had sustained and broad success since joining the USC staff. He has directed 20 men’s and women’s divers to a combined 61 CSCAA First Team All-America honors, eight NCAA titles and 44 conference titles. His USC divers have earned a combined 14 conference diver of the year honors and 10 conference newcomer of the year awards.

The 2024-25 diving squad took Li to new heights as a record number of Trojans earned spots at the NCAA Championships (four men, one woman). First-year Trojan Moritz Wesemann won USC’s first Big Ten diving title (3-meter) and earned First Team All-Conference honors. Both Wesemann and senior Shangfei Wang finished the season with CSCAA First Team All-America honors. On the women’s side, first-year diver Kate Miller was named to the All-Freshman conference team and earned Second Team CSCAA All-America honors.

USC’s 2023-24 diving team was led by fifth year senior Nike Agunbiade, who earned CSCAA First Team All-America honors and won a conference title on platform. Trojans Robert Gref, Shangfei Wang and Laurent Gosselin-Paradis represented USC at the NCAA Championships, with Wang and Gosselin-Paradis each earning Second Team CSCAA All-America honors.

During the 2023 season, Li led USC to a Pac-12 Team Diving Title, with his Trojans sweeping the men’s competition and capturing the women’s platform event. He coached his squad to five top-8 finishes at the NCAA Championships including a runner-up finishes by Shangfei Wang on both springboards. Wang was named the Pac-12 Men’s Diver of the Year, while freshman Laurent Gosselin-Paradis earned the title of Newcomer of the Year after winning two conference crowns. Senior George Korovin won the 3-meter event at Pac-12’s, while Nike Agunbiade won the platform competition. During the fall of 2022, Li served as the U.S.A.’s head coach for the FINA Diving World Cup.

In 2022, Li coached six divers to NCAA qualifications with juniors Nike Agunbiade and George Korovin qualifying on all three boards. Highlights from the 2021-22 season include a Pac-12 title for Korovin on platform, and a sixth place finish on platform for Agunbiade at the NCAA Championships. Freshman diver Shanghai Wang was also third on 1-meter at the Pac-12 Championships and 11th in the 3-meter event at NCAA’s, finishing with All-American second team honors.

During the 2021 condensed season, Li coached three divers to NCAA qualifications with sophomore’s Nike Agunbiade and George Korovin qualifying on all three boards. Highlights from the 2020-2021 diving season included a Pac-12 title for Agunbiade on 3-meter, which she followed up with a consolation final win on platform at NCAA’s. Li also Coached USC to an additional 10 championship final appearances at the Pac-12 Diving Championships. To wrap up the season, Trojan newcomer Farah Volpintesta earned Pac-12 Women’s Freshman Diver of the Year, while Li was recognized for his work, earning the 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Diving Coach of the Year award, his 12^th such honor.

In 2020, Li coached six divers to NCAA qualifications, and a total of 13 All-American honors. Senior Henry Fusaro was named Pac-12 Swimming and Diving Scholar Athlete of the Year and a CoSIDA Academic All-American under Li. Li Coached USC to four top-3 finishes at the 2020 Pac-12 Diving Championships, led by freshman Nike Agunbiade’s second place finish on women’s 3-Meter. For his work, the USC legend also took home the 2020 Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year, his fifth such honor.

In 2019, Li led three women’s divers who qualified for the NCAA Championships in senior Madi Witt (fourth appearance) and juniors Naomi Gowlett and Carly Souza (second appearance). Souza just missed a berth in the platform final, finishing ninth in prelims, ultimately taking eighth in the consolation final. Gowlett was a two-time Pac-12 finalist, finishing a close second on platform and seventh on 3-meter. Souza was also platform finalist. Junior Brad Dalrymple was a Pac-12 finalist on 3-meter. Junior Henry Fusaro, a returning All-American, missed most of the season due to injury.

In 2018, Li coached USC to four top-3 finishes at the 2018 Pac-12 Diving Championships, led by Henry Fusaro’s 3-meter championship and 1-meter runner-up finish, and Pac-12 Diver of the Year Dashiel Enos’ second-place efforts in the 3-meter and platform. Li helped Enos win back-to-back Pac-12 Men's Diver of the Year awards and become a two-time All-American and three-time NCAA scorer. On the women’s side, Witt and Gowlett were Pac-12 platform finalists while Witt made her third straight NCAA appearance and Souza her first.

In 2017, Li sent three divers to the NCAAs, including Enos, who won his first Pac-12 Men’s Diver of the Year that year. He was a two-time NCAA scorer and earned his first All-American honor with a sixth on platform to go with an 11^th on 3-meter. Fusaro, the Pac-12 Newcomer Diver of the Year as a freshman, was also a two-time NCAA scorer with consolation appearances on 1-meter and 3-meter. Enos repeated as a Pac-12 champion on 3-meter among three top 5 conference finishes. Witt reached her second NCAAs while she joined freshmen Gowlett and Souza as Pac-12 finalists.

The 2016 season was another strong campaign for Li and his divers. Li won his second Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year honor after guiding senior Collin Pollard (platform) and sophomore Enos (3-meter) to Pac-12 titles. Pollard was a three-time Pac-12 finalist while Enos and senior Deon Reid were each two-time finalists. Pollard went on to earn his first career All-American honor, reaching the NCAA final on 1-meter while Reid became a first-time NCAA point scorer, finishing 10th on 1-meter. Witt, as a freshman, led Li's women's squad (all six divers scored in USC's first-ever Pac-12 title team) as a two-time Pac-12 finalist and NCAA qualifier.

Senior Haley Ishimatsu had another strong season in 2015 to highlight Li's divers. She finished second on NCAA platform and won the same event at the Pac-12 Championships to become the first Pac-12 woman to win it three straight years. Junior teammate Sam Adams also qualified for her first NCAAs. A whopping four Trojan men -- senior Jordan Gear, juniors Pollard and Reid and freshman Enos -- all qualified for the NCAA Championships and Pollard scored on 1-meter and platform. Pollard also repeated as a three-time Pac-12 finalist.

In 2014 under Li, Ishimatsu became the first woman to repeat as an NCAA platform champion since 1992-93 when she won the event. She also earned her first All-American honors on 1-meter with a sixth-place finish and scored for the first time on 3-meter with a 13th-place finish. That followed springboard wins at the 2014 NCAA Zone E Championships and titles on 3-meter and platform at the 2014 Pac-12 Championships as she was named Pac-12 Women's Diver of the Year. Adams was a three-time Pac-12 finalist on the women's side while Pollard did the same for the men's team.

The 2013 season saw Li's latest success story emerge as Ishimatsu, then a sophomore transfer and the younger sister of former USC diving champion Victoria Ishimatsu, set an NCAA record (396.75) en route to the NCAA platform title. She also won the event at the Pac-12 Championships to go with a second on 1-meter and a fourth on 3-meter. Adams was also a two-time Pac-12 finalist as a freshman. On the men's side, Gear repeated as a Pac-12 finalist on platform.

In 2012 under Li, senior Victoria Ishimatsu won her first career NCAA title and became the first conference diver to win the Women's Diver of the Year four straight years (she was also the first to do it three straight). Ishimatsu won the NCAA title on 1-meter and was seventh on 3-meter, finishing with five career All-American honors. She was named Pac-12 Diver of the Meet for the third year in a row at the 2012 Pac-12 Championships after she won her fourth straight title on 3-meter (386.80) -- becoming the first Pac-12 woman to win four in a row on the same board -- and her third consecutive crown on 1-meter (337.05). Gear, as a freshman, was a finalist on platform at the Pac-12s last year, taking fourth.

In 2011, Victoria Ishimatsu was tabbed as the Pac-10 Women's Diver of the Year for the third year in a row after claiming both Pac-12 springboard titles for the second year in a row. She competed in all three boards at the NCAAs, scoring on the 1-meter and platform. Junior Harrison Jones earned All-American honors on 3-meter and won the 1-meter title at Pac-12s. Senior Steven Starks was also a three-time Pac-12 finalist. Also in 2011, Li served as the World Championships USA Diving Team Manager. Li's then-club diver and current Trojan, Haley Ishimatsu (the younger sister of Victoria), won a 2011 U.S. national title on 10-meter.

In 2010, Victoria Ishimatsu earned a pair of All-American honors on 1-meter and 3-meter and was 10th on platform at the NCAA Championships. That followed Pac-10 titles on 1- and 3-meter, which helped her earn Pac-10 Diver of the Meet for the second year in a row. Freshman Ariel Rittenhouse finished 12th on 3-meter at the NCAAs and was second on 1-meter and third on 3-meter at the Pac-10s. On the men's side, Jones scored in two NCAA events and was a three-time Pac-10 finalist, including a title on 1-meter. Starks was a two-time Pac-10 finalist.

Also in 2010, Li served as head coach for the U.S. contingent at the first ever Youth Olympic Games in Singapore and was a FINA World Cup Diving Assistant Coach.

In 2009, Jones (1-meter and platform) and Ishimatsu (1-meter), then both freshmen, earned a combined three All-American honors, becoming the seventh and eighth All-American divers to compete for Li. Jones also was 10th on 3-meter while Victoria Ishimatsu was 12th on platform and Starks scored on platform. In the Pac-10, Jones won a title on platform and was second on both springboards while Starks was a three-time finalist. On the women's side, Ishimatsu won the 3-meter springboard and was second on 1-meter. In the summer of 2009, Li served as the head coach for the U.S. World Championships squad as well as at the international Canada Open Grand Prix. Also in 2009, club diver Haley Ishimatsu won a silver medal at the 2009 World Championships on 10m synchro.

In 2008, Starks, as a freshman, was an NCAA point scorer on platform and was a three-time Pac-10 finalist, including a second-place on platform. Freshman Christine Petrilli was third on both 1-meter and springboard at the Pac-10 Championships while senior Kim Popp was also a two-time Pac-10 finalist on the same boards. Also in 2008, Li worked for the USOC at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as part of the administrative staff that bridged cultural and language gaps between U.S. and China coaches and athletes. While in Beijing, he was able to watch club divers Rittenhouse (springboard synchro) and Haley Ishimatsu (platform synchro) become Olympic finalists.

In 2007, Kenny Jenkins became the sixth USC diver to garner All-American honors under Li with a fifth place on platform at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Both Jenkins and fellow senior Michael Hilde scored individually at the NCAA Championships in both the 1-meter springboard and platform. Also, Popp reached the NCAAs for the second year in a row and scored for the first time with a 12th-place finish on platform.

In 2006, Blythe Hartley won her fourth and fifth career NCAA titles with wins on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard while Hilde made his All-American debut on 3-meter. Hartley, who also earned her 12th (a maximum for a diver) All-American honor with a final appearance on platform, was named NCAA Women's Diver of the Year for the second time. Her five career NCAA titles is tied for second among NCAA women divers. She also won her seventh and eighth career Pac-10 titles (a Pac-10 record). Junior Michael Hilde earned his first career All-American honor with an eighth-place on 3-meter at the NCAAs and he won his second career Pac-10 platform title (Troy's fourth in a row in the event). In addition to Hilde, Jenkins qualified for his first NCAA Championships, marking the third straight year USC has had two men at the NCAAs. It was the seventh year in a row USC featured at least one All-American diver under Li.

In 2005, Hartley won her third career NCAA title while Ray Vincent earned his third consecutive All-American honors on the platform. Hartley was named 2005 NCAA and Pac-10 women's diver of the year after winning the NCAA 3-meter title and her fifth and sixth career Pac-10 titles a few weeks earlier. She went on to win her second career World Championship gold medal on 1-meter in July, 2005, in Montreal. Vincent also won a Pac-10 title on platform and Troy's men's diving contingent was the highest scoring unit of the meet.

In 2004, Vincent earned All-American honors on the platform, continuing Li's streak of having Trojans earn All-American honors each year he's been at USC. Hilde won his first Pac-10 platform title weeks earlier. Additionally, Hartley represented Canada at the 2004 Olympics (winning bronze on platform synchro) while Li's club diver Rachelle Kunkel made the U.S. team placing 9th on 3-meter springboard. Li was also an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Diving team.

In 2003, three of Li's divers earned All-American honors. Vincent became Li's first men's diver at USC to do so, taking third in the platform at the 2003 NCAA Championships. At the women's NCAAs, Hartley was a three-time All-American while Nicci Fusaro earned one All-American honor. Hartley also swept the 2003 Pac-10 Championship diving events on the women's side (Fusaro took a pair of seconds) and Vincent won the platform title in the men's meet. For their efforts, Li was named 2003 Pac-10 Women's Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season and Hartley was named Pac-10 Women's Diver of the Year for the second straight year.

Li also served as head coach for the U.S. Diving team that competed at the 2003 Grand Prix Diving Championships in Rome, Italy.

He earned NCAA Coach of the Year honors after directing the women's diving squad to superb results at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Hartley won a pair of NCAA titles and made three finals appearances on her way to 2002 NCAA Women's Diver of the Year while Fusaro also made three NCAA finals appearances. Senior diver Kellie Brennan also scored and just missed earning All-American honors. Also in 2002, Hartley won a silver and a bronze at the 2002 Commonwealth Games while Fusaro qualified for the 2002 U.S. national team.

In 2001, Li guided Brennan to a pair of All-American honors (and her third consecutive Pac-10 1-meter title) and Fusaro to her first at the 2001 NCAAs. Both also reached the top three at the 2001 U.S. Indoor Championships. Brennan was named Pac-10 Diver of the Year, Fusaro was tabbed as Newcomer of the Year and Li earned his first Pac-10 Coach of the Year honor. A year earlier in 2000, Li helped guide Brennan to her first two All-American honors.

Li, 58, was named the 1998 and 1999 U.S. Diving Outstanding Age Group Coach of the Year, was a U.S. team coach at the 1999 Pan Am Games, 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.

At Mission Viejo, he produced eight Junior National champions who won a combined 20 individual titles. Among the elite divers Li coached was Erica Sorgi, who 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, earned gold medals on platform at the 1981 FINA World Cup in Mexico City and the 1981 World University Games and won bronze on 3-meter at the 1986 World Championships. He also qualified for the 1980 Olympics, but did not compete because of the Chinese boycott.

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 lives in La Palma, Calif., with his wife, Ling. Their daughter, Amanda, is a USC graduate.