Named the Head Diving Coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers, following the 2008-09 season, Julian Krug has been around for three decades and has played a major role in the Panthers' successful tradition. Krug enters his 31st season at Pitt.
Earning his sixth Men's Diving Coach of the Year honor last season, Krug has led Pitt's diving team to dominance in the Big East. Recent graduate and two-time NCAA championships qualifier Alex Volovetski is one of many divers to succeed under Krug. During the 2007-08 season, Volovetski became Krug's eighth All-American and second in the last three seasons.
Additionally, Krug's divers have won the Big East Most Outstanding Diver award in the last five consecutive seasons.
Since his tenure began in 1979, Krug has produced 18 individual Big East Champions, 43 overall titles, eight All-Americans, numerous Honorable Mention All-Americans, seven repeat NCAA qualifiers, six school record holders and 16 Big East Championship Most Outstanding Divers.
In 2000, Krug was elected to the United States Diving Board of Directors and also spent time on the NCAA Rules Committee. A member of the U.S. Diving Education Committee, Krug is a National Spotting Certifier and has served as a member of the Senior National Rules Committee. Three years ago, he was appointed U.S. Diving Vice President for Senior Diving.
Prior to Volovetski, Jeremy Stultz garnered an All-America finish at the NCAA finals, and his third Big East Diver of the Year honor (2007). Before that, diver Dennis Nemtsanov earned Honorable Mention All-America honors under Krug's tutelage. And going back even further in 2001-02, Michael Wells was a Pitt NCAA qualifier in diving.
Krug believes that preparing oneself to the best of his or her abilities is the most important thing his performers should strive for, as opposed to focusing on first-place finishes.
"I believe that if you train hard with a positive attitude, winning will take care of itself," Krug said. "When we bring divers to Pitt, we expect them to better themselves every season."
A standout diver himself, in 1974 Krug became the first person to successfully execute a 5½ front somersault dive from 10 meters. He performed the dive at Kimball's Diving Camp in Brandon, Fla.
In addition to his coaching experiences, Krug and his wife, Dorothy worked the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, as diving advisors for the NBC telecast. They served in a similar capacity at the 2004 Athens Games, 2000 Sydney Games, 1996 Atlanta Games and 1992 Barcelona Games.
From 1997-2003, Krug served as the United States national team coach at the FINA Mexico Grand Prix. He additionally helped develop two Olympic divers in David Pichler (1996, 2000) and Karen LaFace (1992).
In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Krug also serves as a coaching figure for young and upcoming divers with the Pittsburgh Aquatic Club. This past season, he has developed two national qualifiers, one being a finalist on the one-meter event.
Krug and his wife Dorothy reside in Kennedy Township. The couple serves as diving coaches at the Pittsburgh Aquatic Club. They have two children, Cassidy (24) and Kyle (20). Cassidy was a standout diver at Stanford University where she posted record scores and captured the 2007 NCAA Division I Championships in both the 1M and 3M diving events. She has resumed competing after injury with hopes of to quailfy for the 2012 London Olympics.
In 2007, Krug was joined by his wife and daughter as all three became the first family of recipients to earn the prestigious Whosam Inc. Award for commitment to excellence and dedication to the highest physical and spiritual ideals at the United States Aquatic Sports Awards banquet.
