Wenbo Chen named to USA Diving post

Published 4:21 pm Tuesday, December 6, 2005

MOULTRIE — Former Moss Farms Diving coach Wenbo Chen has been named as the National Training Center coach for USA Diving.

Chen, currently the diving coach at Purdue University, will report for his new job on April 1. He will continue to coach the Purdue divers until he takes over his new position in Indianapolis.

As the National Training Center coach, Chen will work the nation’s top divers, helping prepare them for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

Chen was the coach at Moss Farms from 1996-2001, succeeding Jay Lerew.

During his time in Moultrie, he produced a number of outstanding divers, including Lane Bassham, Clayton Moss, Lauryn McCalley, Ashley Benner and Brooke Bassham.

Chen also produced Senior World champions and team members, Junior World champions and team members, U.S. and Canadian Senior National champions and team members, U.S. Junior National champions and team members, Can-Am-Mex Championships medalists and team members and U.S. Goodwill Games team members.

Chen was one of the top young divers in China from 1973-1982 and was a member of Chinese National Team.

In 1976, he was the Chinese Junior Nationals champion on the 3-meter springboard and from 1977 to 1982, was finalist at the Chinese National Championships on both the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform.

The Beijing native received his bachelor’s degree at Beijing Sports Univer-sity in 1987.

Chen began his coaching career in the People’s Republic of China and from 1983-1991 was the coach of the Chinese National Team.

During that time, he coached gold, silver and bronze Olympic medalists, Chinese national champions and gold medalist in the World Championships, the World University Games an Asia Championships.

He and his wife Wenyin Han a former Chinese ballerina, have two daughters, Amy Yao, 12, and Annie Yuan, 3.

The Chens became American citizens last year.

Since taking over the Purdue program, Chen has sent 12 divers to NCAA Region Zone competitions.

He also has coached Kara Hajek-Gustafson, J.R. Hillis, Carrie McCambridge and Amanda Miller to the NCAA Championships.

Under Chen’s guidance, McCambridge became the most decorated diver in Purdue history. She won all three boards at the 2004 Big Ten Championships and becoming an honorable mention All-American after placing 12th on the 3-meter springboard.

This season, all six of Purdue’s divers have qualified for the Central Regional Diving Zones, which will be held March 11-13 at Purdue University’s Boilermaker Aquatic Center.