Princeton University Athletics
Men's Swimming and Diving
- Title:
- Head Diving Coach
Sean Letsinger is in his second season as the head diving coach with the Princeton swimming and diving team in 2019-20.
In his first season at the helm of the program, Letsinger quickly elevated the team to be the top-performing diving squad in the Ivy League. Princeton was the only Ivy League team, and among only 26 teams nationally, who had divers qualified to compete in both the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships. At the 2019 Women’s Ivy League Championships, Princeton divers swept all of the diving events, with Sine Scribbick winning the 1M springboard and Mimi Lin winning the 3M springboard. Lin was also named the Ivy League Championships Diver of the Meet for her combined finishes across all of the diving events. At the 2019 Men’s Ivy League Championships, Letsinger led sophomore diver Colten Young to two silver medal performances as well as junior diver Charlie Minns to a bronze medal finish in the 1M event.
Prior to Princeton, Letsinger spent the previous five seasons at the University of Richmond where he served as the head diving coach as well as the owner, director, and head diving coach for an age-group program, Richmond Area Diving (RAD). During his time at Richmond, Letsinger left his mark on the program including six different Individual NCAA Zone Qualifiers, two NCAA Zone Finalists, seven Atlantic-10 Conference “Performer of the Week” Award Winners, four Atlantic-10 Conference “Rookie of the Week” Award Winners, two Atlantic-10 Conference women’s 3M Champions, one Atlantic-10 Conference Coach of the Year Award, one Atlantic-10 Conference Most Outstanding Female Diver of the Year Award Winner, two Atlantic-10 All-Conference first-team honors, two Atlantic-10 Conference medalists, three Atlantic-10 Conference Finalists, four women’s 3M school-record performances, and one women’s 1M school-record performance. As the head diving coach at Richmond Area Diving, Letsinger coached multiple regional and national champions and finalists, and many of his divers continued to dive collegiately at various schools in the Pac-12, ACC, Atlantic 10, and CAA Conferences.
Before his time in Richmond, Letsinger spent the 2012-13 season as the men’s and women’s diving coach at South Dakota State. In his short time there, he led his divers to 22 individual personal-best performances, 18 individual wins, 14 individual second-place finishes, and seven school records. Letsinger played a pivotal role in leading the men’s team to its first undefeated dual meet season in school history (7–0). Under his leadership, his divers raised the men’s three-meter school record by 28.73 points and raised the men’s one-meter school record by 42.22 points.
A native of Knoxville, Tenn., Letsinger was a letterman diver at Tennessee from 2007-10. He was awarded the first-ever Inspiration Award at the 2010 Volscars in honor of his perseverance through extreme personal obstacles. During the following two seasons, he went on to become the student assistant diving coach at UT and assisted head coach, Dave Parrington, in leading his divers to multiple top finishes in the 2012 SEC Championships.
Letsinger held the assistant diving coach position for Tennessee Diving for eight years, from 2004-12. During his time with the program, he assisted in coaching multiple city, state, regional, zone, and national finalists and champions. Letsinger coached divers including Jacob Siler, who was the gold medalist in the 12-13 three meter event at the 2011 USA Diving Age Group National Championships, and Samuel Smith, who was a finalist in the 2012 USA Diving Olympic Trials.
Additionally, Letsinger served as the head diving coach for Knoxville Catholic High School for four years (2008–2012). During his time coaching at KCHS, his divers consistently finished in the top eight in all major high school championships. Letsinger coached Emily Boone to a gold medal in the 2012 Knoxville City High School Diving Championships in her senior season.
Prior to college, Letsinger qualified and competed in 14 USA Junior Olympic Nationals, one USA Diving Junior Olympic World Trials (2002), two USA vs. Canada Junior Challenges (2002, 2003), and one Junior Olympic Pan-American Games (2003). He competed on several USA Diving international teams which included Olympic medalists Nick McCrory, Kristian Ipsen, and Kelci Bryant.
Letsinger remains the current record holder of the Knoxville Area high school city championships (571.90) and has held that record since 2005. While in high school, he was named Texas Roadhouse High School Athlete of the Week, Tennessee State High School Diver of the Year, and Academic All-American on numerous occasions.
Letsinger graduated with a Bachelor of Science in sports management with a minor in business from the University of Tennessee in May 2011. Additionally, he graduated with a Master of Science in Sport and Recreation Leadership from South Dakota State University in December 2014.
In addition to his coaching endeavors at Princeton University, Letsinger is the Director of Diving and Associate Head Diving Coach for Princeton Tigers Aquatics Club (PTAC).
Sean and his husband, Stefan, reside in Yardley, Pa. with their two dogs, Browser and Oliver.
Sean Letsinger Coaching Highlights
- 17 NCAA Zone Qualifiers
- 5 NCAA Zone Finalists
- 1 Men’s NCAA Championship Qualifier
- 2019 – Colten Young
- 1 Women’s NCAA Championship Qualifier
- 2019 – Mimi Lin
- 1 Women’s Ivy League Conference 1 Meter Champion
- 2019 – Sine Scribbick – 282.10
- 1 Women’s Ivy League Conference 3 Meter Champion
- 2019 – Mimi Lin – 304.50
- 1 Ivy League Championship Diver of the Meet Award
- 7 Atlantic 10 Conference “Performer of the Week” Awards
- 4 Atlantic 10 Conference “Rookie of the Week” Awards
- 2 Atlantic 10 Conference 3 Meter Champions
- 2016 – Irina Chiulli – 303.30
- 2015 – Irina Chiulli – 314.60
- 1 Atlantic 10 Conference Women’s Diving Coach of the Year Award
- 2016
- 1 Atlantic 10 Conference Most Outstanding Female Diver of the Year Award
- 2015 – Irina Chiulli
- 2 Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team Honors
- 2016 – Irina Chiulli
- 2015 – Irina Chiulli
- 2 Atlantic 10 Conference Medalists
- 3 Atlantic 10 Conference Finalists
- 4 UR Women’s 3 Meter School Record Performances
- 1/30/2016 – Irina Chiulli – 335.63
- 12/5/2015 – Irina Chiulli – 335.48
- 2/20/2015 – Irina Chiulli – 314.60
- 11/9/2013 – Irina Chiulli – 310.06
- 1 UR Women’s 1 Meter School Record Performances
- 1/30/2016 – Irina Chiulli – 298.12
- 5 SDSU Men’s 3 Meter School Record Performances
- 2/2/2013 – Clark Kocourek – 320.33
- 1/19/2013 – Brad Schoreit – 315.60
- 1/12/2013 – Clark Kocourek – 312.23
- 12/8/2012 – Clark Kocourek – 300.90
- 11/16/2012 – Brad Schoreit – 292.58
- 2 SDSU Men’s 1 Meter School Record Performances
- 2/1/2013 – Clark Kocourek – 345.67
- 1/19/2013 – Clark Kocourek – 322.80
- 3 Summit League Conference Finalists
- 2 Summit League Conference Medalists
- 2 Summit League All-League Team Awards
- 2 Summit League Conference “Diver of the Week” Awards
