Diving into history By David Horn Daily Sports Writer There are names that resonate through Canham Natatorium. Names like Mann, Stager, Hanley, Urbanchek and Dolan. Equally mythical among these names is that of diving coach Richard Kimball. Now in his 44th consecutive year involved with men's diving at Michigan, Kimball has established himself as a leading name in the sport. His tenure is the longest among all Division I coaches. "Coach Kimball is the Bear Bryant of collegiate diving," Michigan women's swimming coach Jim Richardson said. "He is amazing." Kimball was born in Rochester, Minn., in 1935. His older brother attended a private Catholic school where he played football, baseball and boxed. But the younger Kimball would not follow in his brother's footsteps. Richard Kimball showed promise in swimming and diving as a young boy, and the decision was made for him to attend the public school, where a diving program was available. As a middle schooler he competed on the varsity level, and was ranked No. 7 in the state in his first year. In eighth grade Kimball was ranked No. 4. In each of his four high school years, the diving phenom was ranked No. 1 in the state, and led his team to four straight state championships. Kimball was recruited to dive at Michigan, following a year spent at Oklahoma. Coach Bruce Harlan - a 1948 Olympic gold medalist - and his sophomore sensation would complement a strong Michigan squad that annually fought against Big Ten rival Ohio State. In 1957, Kimball became the first Wolverine in 20 years to be national collegiate diving champion on both the one-meter and three-meter springboard. "Our coach was an OSU diver, so it spurred a rivalry," Kimball said. "We stole a lot of recruits from Ohio." In 1959, the Wolverines were battling Ohio State for the Big Ten title. Ohio State divers Ron O'Brien and Sam Hall challenged Kimball for conference supremacy on the three meter board. Entering the final dual meet of the season against Ohio State, Michigan had won 26-straight dual meets. Despite a disappointing performance from Kimball, the Wolverines triumphed. "For quality plus quantity, this is the best team you've ever had," legendary Ohio State coach Mike Peppe told members of the Michigan team after the meet. "Your second team could take the nationals. You had guys swimming we never heard about who beat our best men by 20 yards." But Kimball had yet to defeat his Ohio State counterparts. At the national meet, he would have his chance. "Without a doubt he'll win the NCAA championships," Harlan told the Daily before the final meet of Kimball's collegiate career. Harlan's Namathesque prophecy was realized. He suggested that the dives Kimball attempted against Ohio State were difficult dives at which he "lacked expertise." But the NCAA championship was another matter. Kimball's performance was good enough for him to win the individual title, helping the Wolverines edge out a pesky Yale squad. The success of a Kimball-led diving squad made a tremendous impact on the success of the entire swimming team - more so than modern squads. "There were instances when (the divers) would score a third of the team's total points," Kimball said. The sentiment of Peppe regarding the dominance of the Wolverines is echoed today by their leading diver. "My senior year we could have divided the team into three separate parts and won first, second, and third at nationals - that's how good we were," Kimball said. In the year after Kimball's graduation, tragedy struck the team. Harlan died when he fell from a scaffold during an exhibitional diving show. Kimball would have to make the transition immediately from diver to coach. "I was in the right place at the right time," Kimball said. Thus, a new era began in Michigan swimming and diving. In 1960, Michigan's most prolific diver in its history became its coach. Over 41 years, Kimball earned every honor that could be bestowed on a diving coach, and has maintained and furthered Michigan's reputation as a national swimming and diving power. He has served as U.S. Olympic team coach five times, and has attended two additional Olympic games with his own divers. The sport of diving has changed radically in the 45 years that Kimball has been in Ann Arbor. Although the degree of difficulty of most dives is much greater, Kimball suggests that it is not a result of better athletes. "Years ago you had to wait four years for the approval of new dives," Kimball said. "Now the sport continues to evolve as dives continue to be added. The backwards handstand that is getting to be so popular now I was doing back in the 60's. But it wasn't legal back then. It's the changes in the sport and the new challenges that keep me coming back." Recruiting is among the challenges Kimball finds rewarding, but tiresome. "Success breeds success," Kimball said. "If you have a good program, people become interested in it. Other coaches are using the fact that I've been here 41 years against me. They say, 'don't go to Michigan. How long is (Kimball) going to stay there?' Obviously after being here this long the end is in sight, but it's not the kind of thing you want to be thinking about." But for all the trouble that his skeptics create, Kimball continues to be a leader and pioneer in his sport. He is credited with popularizing the use of the one meter dive in competition. "Richard Kimball was the reason I went to Michigan," said former Kimball diver and current University of Florida diving coach Donnie Craine. "He is like a second father to me. He was the best man at my wedding. Kimball is still a leader in the sport - when he talks, others listen. He works harder than anyone else, and always commands respect." Kimball's accomplishments are many. A four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year; a two-time NCAA Diving Coach of the Year; coach of four Olympic gold medalists; a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. But for all his successes, his life hasn't been free of drama. In 1988, his son Bruce was involved in a car accident in which two teenagers were killed and another six injured. He served five years in prison for vehicular manslaughter. The walls of Richard Kimball's office are decorated by photographs of him with everyone from Jimmy Carter to Tom Dolan, everywhere from Seoul to Mexico City. He has been the most recognizable name in men's and women's diving over the past half century. Kimball was thrust into coaching at Michigan in 1960 and has not looked back. In February of 1981 the Daily ran a feature on the man that attempted to summarize his accomplishments of 21 years. 20 years later, Kimball is 20 years more accomplished, and despite his fellow coaches' wishes the end of a very special coaching tenure may or may not be near. DAILY ARCHIVES In 1957, Richard Kimball became the first Michigan diver to win Nationals on both the one meter and three meter springboard. Richard Kimball Originally on page 9A in the 1-26-2000 issue of the Daily.