Chris Pape was named an assistant coach for swimming and diving on July 15, 2019.
Pape, who oversees the divers, helped the Coyotes men's and women's teams finish as runners-up in the Summit League Championships. Diver Haley Pederson earned All-Summit League honors in both the one-meter and three-meter boards and was an NCAA Zone Qualifier in both events.
Prior to his arrival in Vermillion he spent the previous six seasons as the diving coach at Lindenwood University, a NCAA Division II school in St. Charles, Missouri.
During his tenure at Lindenwood, Pape saw 13 of his divers advance to the NCAA Division II national championships. He was twice named New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Diving Coach of the Year.
Pape came to St. Charles after coaching one season at NCAA Division III Augsburg. He helped initiate the first official diving season in that school’s history.
Prior to Augsburg, he was a graduate assistant coach for two seasons at NCAA Division I South Dakota. Pape coached nine conference finalist at South Dakota as well as coaching numerous pool-record breaking performances.
Pape was an all-conference and national qualifying diver at St. Cloud State from 2004-08. He was a five-time conference finalist and had a best showing of 15th on the three-meter dive at the national championship.
Pape, who is originally from Bismarck, N.D., received his bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State in elective studies, and earned his master’s from South Dakota in Kinesiology and Sport Science.
