Michael Wright - Assistant Diving Coach - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Michael Wright

Title:
Assistant Diving Coach
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Former Tennessee Vol and USA National Champion Michael Wright returned to Rocky Top as Assistant Diving Coach ahead of the 2025-26 season, Director of Swimming & Diving Matt Kredich and Head Diving Coach Jane Figueiredo announced April 25.

“We are incredibly fortunate and very excited to bring Mike Wright back to Knoxville,” Kredich said. “Mike is one of the brightest young coaches in the collegiate diving world, and he has deep Tennessee roots. Mike has had success both coaching and recruiting at national and international levels in diving, and his knowledge of and love for Tennessee makes him a tremendous fit. His ability to connect with the athletes he coaches and recruits is one of his greatest strengths. This, combined with his deep knowledge of the sport, has brought the best out of his divers, and is going to make him part of the best diving coaching staff in the country.”

An SEC champion and All-American performer for the Big Orange from 2009-11, Wright is one of the top divers in program history. He became the first African-American to ever win a title at the USA Diving Winter National Championships in 2010.

As a senior team captain in 2011, Wright posted a 1-meter springboard score of 416.85 during the SEC Championships clinched him the title and set the program record at the time. He went on to finish seventh overall in the event at the NCAA Championships that season.

“I am beyond excited to be back home coaching on Rocky Top,” Wright said. “Having the opportunity to coach alongside of Matt, Jane and the Tennessee staff is really a dream come true. I will always be grateful for Dave Parrington's mentorship and influence on my career as an athlete and coach. Thrilled to be working alongside Jane, one of the greatest coaches in the world, while taking Tennessee to new heights. Go Big Orange!”

Shortly after the start of the 2022–23 season, Wright was appointed head diving coach at South Carolina, where he led the Gamecocks to three SEC titles and a total of four medals. Under his guidance, Brooke Schultz swept the springboard events at the conference meet and earned 2023 SEC Diver of the Year honors. Over his three seasons in Columbia, he also coached four different divers to All-America status.

Internationally, Wright was recently named Head Coach for Team USA, as the Red, White and Blue prepares to compete in Beijing for the 2025 World Cup Finals. Wright guided Maxwell Spencer through the 2024 British Olympic Trials as well as Manny Vazquez at the 2023 World Championships as part of Team Puerto Rico.

“I am delighted to have Mike Wright, a Tennessee Vol Alumni, as part of our awesome swimming and diving family,” Figueiredo said. “Mike comes to us with great passion and desire to give back to Tennessee and work alongside myself and the staff to produce the best divers for the program. Mike is dedicated to everything Tennessee, and his technical knowledge and dedication to excellence will be a tremendous asset as we move the diving program forward.”

After capping his competitive career as a finalist during the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2012, Wright rejoined the UT diving staff as a volunteer assistant for his first of two stints in the role. From 2013-16, he helped coach NCAA champion Liam Stone and three-time SEC champion Mauricio Robles. During the 2021-22 season, he was a part of the Lady Vols’ SEC Championship team.

Wright also served as the head coach of the Tennessee Aquatics diving club from 2013 until 2022, guiding athletes to the USA Junior National Team and to a combined nine USA National Titles. His efforts earned him the opportunity to coach the Junior Pan American Team, which featured his divers winning two gold medals as well as a silver and bronze medal during the 2017 and 2019 games.

The six-time Tennessee High School Diving Coach of the Year guided athletes to state championships every year from 2016 until 2021. All 12 of the graduating senior divers that Wright coached went on to sign National Letters of Intent with college programs.

Prior to competing at Tennessee, Wright helped Indian River State College to back-to-back NJCAA Championships by sweeping the one- and three-meter events in 2007 and 2008. He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2015.

Truly a gifted athlete, Wright became well-known outside of the diving world as the “Speedo Ninja” on American Ninja Warrior, competing in five of the seasons. He advanced to the National Vegas Finals during season 10.

Wright earned his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in 2011 and then completed his master’s degree in Sports Psychology in 2013. He and his wife, Hali, have three kids: Kylee, Camden and Kobie.