Swimming: Grapner Joins Coaching Staff
December 17, 2010 03:08 PM | General
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University Director of Athletics Oliver Luck and swimming and diving head coach Vic Riggs announced today the hiring of Michael Grapner as an assistant coach. Grapner will join the team on Dec. 28, and will head the diving program.
“We are excited to welcome Michael to West Virginia University,” Luck said. “The addition of this position will help our diving team grow tremendously at both the BIG EAST and national levels and we look forward to seeing the future success.”
Most recently, Grapner served as the head coach of Redhawk Elite Diving (Aug. 2010-Dec. 2010) and Talawanda High School (Jan. 2007-Dec. 2010). He also served as head coach of U.S. Elite Diving Academy in the Oxford, Ohio satellite (Aug. 2006-July 2010), Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Oct. 2007-March 2009) and was the interim coach at Miami (Ohio) for the 2006 fall semester.
“Michael is a young and energetic coach that comes to WVU with the experience and knowledge to guide the diving program to the next level,” Riggs said. “Having Michael join us now will have an immediate impact on our current and future WVU divers. I also want to thank Mr. Luck as this hiring shows the commitment to providing the best resources for our student-athletes.”
“It’s an honor to be the first full time diving coach at WVU and I hope we can continue to be competitive in the BIG EAST. I would like to thank Vic and Mr. Luck for the opportunity,” Grapner said. “I’m very excited and this opportunity has allowed me to fulfill a career goal of mine.”
While Grapner was coaching for U.S. Elite Diving, the team won the 2010 USA Speedo Junior National Team Championships and the 2010 U.S. Diving East National Team Championship. He has also coached at the USA Diving Junior National and International Championships for five seasons.
Grapner’s high school athletes have seen much success as well. Grapner has coached finalists in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. He specifically coached the Kentucky men’s state champion, Kentucky’s two-time women’s runner-up and Ohio’s women’s runner-up.
Grapner was the meet director for the 2010 USA Diving East Junior National Championship, the 2009 USA Diving Region 4 Championship and the 2006 Miami University Diving Invitational. He also served as a three-year coach at the Indiana University and Miami University Diving Camps.
At the collegiate level, Grapner was a two-year member of the UNC Wilmington diving squad from 2003-05. While at UNC Wilmington, the squad won two conference championships and Grapner was a finalist at the championships. He also represented the squad on the Student Athlete Athletic Council in 2004.
Grapner graduated from Miami (Ohio) University with a bachelor’s degree in health sports studies in 2008. Earlier this year, Grapner earned his master’s from Ohio University in sport science and coaching education.
“We are excited to welcome Michael to West Virginia University,” Luck said. “The addition of this position will help our diving team grow tremendously at both the BIG EAST and national levels and we look forward to seeing the future success.”
Most recently, Grapner served as the head coach of Redhawk Elite Diving (Aug. 2010-Dec. 2010) and Talawanda High School (Jan. 2007-Dec. 2010). He also served as head coach of U.S. Elite Diving Academy in the Oxford, Ohio satellite (Aug. 2006-July 2010), Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Oct. 2007-March 2009) and was the interim coach at Miami (Ohio) for the 2006 fall semester.
“Michael is a young and energetic coach that comes to WVU with the experience and knowledge to guide the diving program to the next level,” Riggs said. “Having Michael join us now will have an immediate impact on our current and future WVU divers. I also want to thank Mr. Luck as this hiring shows the commitment to providing the best resources for our student-athletes.”
“It’s an honor to be the first full time diving coach at WVU and I hope we can continue to be competitive in the BIG EAST. I would like to thank Vic and Mr. Luck for the opportunity,” Grapner said. “I’m very excited and this opportunity has allowed me to fulfill a career goal of mine.”
While Grapner was coaching for U.S. Elite Diving, the team won the 2010 USA Speedo Junior National Team Championships and the 2010 U.S. Diving East National Team Championship. He has also coached at the USA Diving Junior National and International Championships for five seasons.
Grapner’s high school athletes have seen much success as well. Grapner has coached finalists in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. He specifically coached the Kentucky men’s state champion, Kentucky’s two-time women’s runner-up and Ohio’s women’s runner-up.
Grapner was the meet director for the 2010 USA Diving East Junior National Championship, the 2009 USA Diving Region 4 Championship and the 2006 Miami University Diving Invitational. He also served as a three-year coach at the Indiana University and Miami University Diving Camps.
At the collegiate level, Grapner was a two-year member of the UNC Wilmington diving squad from 2003-05. While at UNC Wilmington, the squad won two conference championships and Grapner was a finalist at the championships. He also represented the squad on the Student Athlete Athletic Council in 2004.
Grapner graduated from Miami (Ohio) University with a bachelor’s degree in health sports studies in 2008. Earlier this year, Grapner earned his master’s from Ohio University in sport science and coaching education.
2026 Mountaineer Invitational Preview
Thursday, April 09
Nate Gabriel | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rich Rodriguez | April 8
Thursday, April 09
Coach Rod West | April 8
Thursday, April 09
