MOULTRIE – Four-and-a-half years after Wenbo Chen left as the Moss Farm Diving coach to take the job as coach at Purdue, his successor, Ron Piemonte, also is leaving for the college ranks.

Piemonte will become the diving coach at Virginia Tech in July. He will lead the Diving Tigers through the Summer East Championships, which will be held July 6-9 at the Moose Moss Aquatic Center.

“I think that’s in the best interest of the kids,” Piemonte said. “I love the kids here. I’m going to miss the kids. And it’s sad that I won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of 4 1/2 years of hard work and be here for the next couple years. They could be some of the best years of the program. But this was an offer I couldn’t refuse. Things happen for a reason.”

Piemonte said that Virginia Tech swimming coach Ned Skinner “actively pursued me.”

“And he’s a terrific guy,” Piemonte said. “This is really pretty exciting.”

Piemonte said that Virginia Tech is building a new aquatics center that should be ready next year and that it was appealing to be able to be part of the program when the facility is in place.

One of the divers he will coach next season on the men’s team is Mikey McDonald, son of Patriot Dive Club coach Roland McDonald. Piemonte has known the young diver for a number of years.

“He’s a good kid,” Piemonte said. “And he’s a team-builder, the kind of kid the other kids want to dive with.”

Virginia Tech will begin its third season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference this fall.

It previously was a member of the Big East. Piemonte said he was impressed with the school’s strong athletic department.

Piemonte also will coach a small age-group team that will include his own children, promising divers Leah and Ronnie Piemonte.

Piemonte said the Moss Farms team will be in good hands with assistant coach Ed Goodman, who has been with the program for eight months, until his successor is named.

“He knows their needs,” said Piemonte, who added that he thought Goodman would do a fine job if selected as the new head coach.

A search is being conducted for Piemonte’s successor.

Piemonte leaves the program with a number of outstanding divers.

Ryan Helms and Hannah Moore were named Georgia’s Outstanding Junior Male and Female Divers this year.

The Moss Farms Junior Olympics team includes Moore, Helms, Ann Perry Blank, Kelsey Goodman, Anna Aguero, Ali Lepech, Maddie Qurnell, Jillian Braun, Erin Goodman, Jacob Russell, Owen Blank and Staci Howard.

The Gold Team, which consists of Ana Jiminez, Audrey White, Elizabeth Ann Kirkland, Tevin Hightower, Henry Norman, Dalan Wedgeworth and Dean Benton, has promise.

While with Moss Farms, Piemonte received the 2005 Moose Moss Award presented by U.S. Diving to the nation’s top age group diving coach.

During his tenure, he has produced four East National champions, two YMCA National champions, three high school state champions and had three different divers qualify for international competitions.

Piemonte came to the Moss Farms program from Tualatin Hills Dive Club in Beaverton, Ore., where he spent 10 years as the coach.

Before going to Oregon, he was the head coach for men and women at the University of New Mexico and ran an outstanding age group team.

An outstanding National level diver from 1974-1985, Piemonte received a scholarship to Arizona State.

He and wife of 20 years Tina, a former diver and the Moss Farms lessons coach, have three children, Rachele, Leah and Ronnie.