Welcome to Trojan Dive Club

The Trojan Dive Club, an elite age group diving program, is one of 7 Podium Programs for USA Diving in the country. Our main objective is to teach proper diving techniques, improve physical fitness, build mental toughness and self-esteem through the sport of diving. During this process we strive to guide athletes of all ages to achieve their personal goals and set them on a course to reach their full potential in life. We welcome divers of all levels and disciplines; from novice to Olympians as well as cliff divers and masters.

Staff

Program Director - Hongping Li

Hongping Li Pic

Coach Li has been the Head Diving Coach at the University of Southern California since 1999. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Southern California in 1989. Before emigrating to the USA, Coach Li was a 12 time Chinese National Champion and a member of both the 1980 and 1984 Chinese Olympic teams. He earned a Gold Medal at the 1981 FINA World Cup 10 meter platform competition in Mexico City, a Bronze Medal on the 3 meter springboard at the 1986 World Championships in Madrid, Spain and was the 3 meter NCAA Champion in 1986.

Honors
Hall Of Fame - World Acrobatics Society 2019
Pac-12 Men's Diving Coach of the Year 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023
Pac-12 Women's Diving Coach of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014, 2021
Pac-10 Diving Coach of the Year 2011, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002, and 2001
NCAA Women's Coach of the Year 2006 and 2002
USOC Diving Development Coach of the Year 1999 and 1998

Coaching Highlights
2023 Pam Am Games - USA Team Coach
2022 FINA Diving World Cup, USA Diving Head Coach
2018 Canada Grand Prix - USA Team Coach
2017 World University Games - USA Team Head Coach
2011, 2015 World Championships - USA Diving Team Manager
2014 Canada Grand Prix - USA Team Assistant Coach
2010 Inaugural Youth Olympic Games - Head Coach/Team Leader
2010 FINA World Cup - Diving Assistant Coach
2009 World Championships - Diving Head Coach
2009 Canada Open Grand Prix - Diving Head Coach
2008 Olympic Games Beijing - USOC Administrative Personnel
2004 Olympics Athens - Diving Team Coach
2003 FINA Grand Prix - USA Diving Team Head Coach
2001 World Games - USA Team Leader

Notable Athletes Coached
Katrina Young – 2022 World Championships and World Cup 10m platform synchronized diving silver medalist
Morenike Agunbiade – 2022 World Cup 10m platform bronze medalist and synchronized diving silver medalist
Haley Ishimatsu - 2013 and 2014 NCAA Women’s Platform Champion, 2012 USA Diving Winter National 10m Champion, 2010 World Cup Team Champion, 2009 World Championships 10m Synchronized Silver Medalist, 2008 Olympic Games finalis, 2014 Pac-12 Diver of the Year, 2014 All-American
Tory Ishamatsu - 2013 USA Diving National 1m Champion, 2012 NCAA Women’s 1m Champion, 7 Time Pac-10 Champions, and 2009 USA National Championships 1m Silver Medalist
Blythe Hartley - 2005 World Champion, 2004 Olympic Games Canadian Bronze medalist, 5 NCAA Championship Titles, and 3 Time NCAA Women’s Diver of The Year, 2002, 2005 and 2006
Ariel Rittenhouse - 2009 World Championships 3m Finalist, 2008 Olympic Games 3m Synchronized Diving Finalist, 2006 World Cup Silver Medalist, and 2005 Junior National Platform Champion
Rachelle Kunkel - 2004 Olympic Games Finalist and 6 Time USA Diving National Champion
Dashiell Enos - 2013 USA Junior National Champion (3m and 10m Synchro)
Olivia Rosendahl - 2013 USA Junior National Champion (1m)
Harrison Jones - 2009 All American - NCAA 1m, 10m
Doerte Lindner - 2000 Olympic Bronze Medal 3m, 1997 NCAA Title, MVP
More notable athletes: Jake Fielding, Sophie McAfee, Henry Fusaro, Collin Pollard, Harrison Jones, Erin Sones, Nicci Fusaro, Raymond Vincent, Michael Hilde, Kenny Jenkins, and Kellie Brennan. USA Diving National Champions & NCAA All Americans.


Co-Head Coach - Doerte Lindner

Doerte Lindner Pic

At the age of 5, Coach Doerte was handpicked by the East German Government during swim lessons to be a gymnast. Three years later, she was transitioned to join the diving team. Doerte perfected her skills under the East Germany Federation until she turned 16, the year of Germany's reunification.

Doerte achieved numerous German and European Championship titles in both springboard and platform diving. Unfortunately, a back injury thwarted her participation in the 1996 Olympic Games. In order to continue diving, Doerte needed a change and accepted an athletic scholarship at USC from 1996 to 2000. Her impactful contributions led to her receiving the MVP award, instrumental in USC Swimming & Diving clinching the NCAA title in 1997. Doerte concluded her diving career with a remarkable 3rd place finish at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney from the 3-meter springboard.

Post-diving career, Doerte transitioned into the financial industry, where she excelled as Project Manager, Branch Manager and Accounting Manager. Now married with four daughters, she embraces the unique perspective of being a mom to her youngest, a 16-year-old competitive track & field hurdle runner. Leveraging her skills and diverse experience, Doerte currently thrives as a Financial Business Consultant, specializing in assisting startup and small businesses within Ecommerce and Entertainment sectors.

Coach Hongping played a pivotal role in Doerte's Olympic success. During practice one day, Coach Hongping asked, “What is your goal at the next Olympic Games?” Doerte replied, “I don’t know, just hoping to qualify.” Hongping then stated, “Doerte, if you keep practicing like this, you can win a medal at the Olympic Games.” This unwavering belief became a turning point, motivating Doerte to pursue Olympic medal glory.

Grateful for her time under Coach Hongping from 1997 to 2000, her special tenure at USC, and the guidance from all her coaches and teachers, Doerte is committed to giving back. She finds joy in coaching young athletes at the USC Diving Club, a testament to her enduring love for the sport and community.

Email: doertelindner@hotmail.com

Honors
2000 Sydney Olympic Games Bronze Medal 3 Meter Springboard 🥉
1997 NCAA All American
1997 NCAA Champion USC Swimming & Diving Team, Member


Co-Head Coach - Tory Ishimatsu

Tory Ishimatsu Pic

Coach Tory, a highly accomplished diver, has been coaching with the Trojan Dive Club for many years, transitioning to full-time status upon graduation from USC. She has extensive experience coaching Junior National Champions, as well as novice to elite and collegiate divers.
Email: tishimatsu1@gmail.com

Honors
Seven-time Pac-10 & Pac-12 1 Meter and 3 Meter Springboard Champion
Four-time Pac-10 & Pac-12 Diver of the Year
Five-time NCAA All American
2012 NCAA 1 Meter Springboard Champion


Associate Head Coach - Ryan King

Ryan King

Coach Ryan has worked with Community Novice, CIF High School, Junior Olympic Club, California Community College Athletic Association and NCAA Division 1 athletes. Coach Ryan graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BA in Sociology and a minor in Anthropology.
Email: ryandiver89@gmail.com

Honors
Four-time California CCAA State Chmpionships All American
2009 Western States 1 Meter and 3 Meter Conference Champion
2010 Big Eight 1 Meter and 3 Meter Conference Champion
NCAA D-1 Sunbelt Conference Diver of the Week, Fall 2010.


Assistant Coach - Alyson Tam

Alyson Tam

Alyson joined TDC as a junior diver in 2015. She went on to compete for USC's Diving Team from 2018 to 2022, when she graduated with a degree in Communications. Alyson started coaching at TDC in 2019. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's degree in Communication Management with an emphasis in Entertainment and Marketing.
Email: alysonta@usc.edu


Assistant Coach - Joey Cifelli

Joey Cifelli

Joey joins the Trojan Dive Club from Purdue and has a long and successfull career in diving. At Purdue he majored in Marketing and Management . For more details see his Team USA profile.
Email: jmcifelli97@gmail.com

Honors
U.S. Olympic Team Trials Finalist (3-Meter Diving)
Two-time Big Ten Diver of the Week
Six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week
All-America honors (1-Meter)
World University Games Qualifier (1-Meter for Team USA)
4x NCAA Championships Qualifier (1-Meter & 3-Meter)
Academic All-Big Ten

Assistant Coach - Kim Pop

Kim Pop

Coach Kim Popp has been diving since the early 2000's and coaching since a student diver at USC. As a member of the USC Dive Team, she finished her career (2005-08) as a two-time NCAA Championships participant and a four-time Pac-10 finalist. Her career highlights included a 12th-place finish on platform at the 2007 NCAAs and a pair of second-place platform finishes at the 2006 and 2007 Pac-10s. Coach Kim prepped at Palos Verdes Peninsula (Calif.) High School, where she was a three-year gymnast and competed as a diver in 2004. She was fourth in the CIF Southern Section diving finals in 2004 and was an all-league gymnast in 2002 and 2003.

Honors
Two-time Pac-10 Medalist, Platform
NCAA All-American Honorable Mention
2x USA Diving Senior National Finalist Platform


Assistant Coach - Katrina Young

Katrina Young

2016 and 2020 Olympian Katrina Young began diving at age nine and her favorite dive is 407C. One of the moments she remembers most throughout her diving career was competing at the 2005 Junior Pan American Championships in Fort Lauderdale when Hurricane Katrina hit. After breaking her right leg across the growth plates in 2007, Katrina worked hard to regain her diving mentality. During meets she likes to visualize and listen to music. Katrina graduated from Florida State with a degree music in 2015 and enjoys the outdoors, hiking, music and language. For more details see Katrina's USA Diving profile.

Honors
World Championships Silver Medalist on 10 meter platform synchronized diving in 2022
World Championships Bronze Medalist on 10 meter platform synchronized diving in 2019
USA National Champion on 10 meter platform individual and synchronized diving in 2018
2 x Olympian in 2016 and 2020
3 x NCAA All American