LEXINGTON, Ky.? The University of Kentucky head swimming coach Gary Conelly has announced the hiring of Ted Hautau as the new diving coach Tuesday. Hautau previously coached at N.C. State where he had an All-America honorable mention diver in 2008.
Hautau replaces Mike Lyden who spent 16 seasons as the coach of the diving program at Kentucky. Lyden passed away in early April after a long battle with cancer.
?Ted is the perfect fit for our team,? said Conelly. ?He is high energy and extremely motivating. He feels honored to be picked to carry on Mike Lyden’s legacy, and I am certain he is going to make us all proud.?
Hautau enjoyed an impressive season with the Wolfpack as he led Kristin Davies to a 13th place finish on the platform at the NCAA Championships in 2008. Davies earned All-America honorable mention honors for her 243.20 score in the event.
Prior to his time at N.C. State, Hautau spent 13 seasons as the head diving coach at Davidson College. At Davidson, Hautau coached Chris Wrobleski to a school record on the one-meter during a dual meet with South Carolina. Additionally, Hautau guided Liz Nugent to back-to-back Zone Diving Championship appearances. Nugent claimed the three-meter crown at the Southern States Championship in 2000 while setting a school record in the event.
Hautau began his career as the head diving coach at North Carolina where he coached the women to three ACC titles, while the men earned two crowns. He had two athletes earn ACC Diver of the Year awards under his tutelage, while also coaching All-ACC members in the 1992 and 1994 seasons.
In addition to his duties while at Davidson, Hautau coached for Fuel Diving, a local club diving program in Huntersville. He served as the event coordinator for the 2004 World Cup Trials and 2005 Speedo Jr. National and U.S. Championships in Huntersville, which drew some of the nation?s top divers and Olympians.
Hautau is married to Jessica Thompson, a former Kentucky diver under Lyden. Thompson claimed the 2005 three-meter SEC Championship and was a three-time All-America honorable mention for the Wildcats.
