University of Tennessee Athletics
National Champion, VFL Colin Zeng Named Diving Graduate Assistant Coach
January 14, 2022 | Swimming & Diving
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – A three-time NCAA champion and two-time CSCAA Diver of the Year honoree, Colin Zeng has rejoined the Tennessee diving program as a graduate assistant coach, diving coach Dave Parrington announced Friday.
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"Any time you have the opportunity to bring someone of the caliber of Colin Zeng onto your staff, you have to jump at it," Parrington said. "I am tremendously excited to bring Colin on and for him to work with us. I look forward to helping groom him for a potential college coaching career. He will bring a lot to our program. He boasts a wealth of experience and knowledge."
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Zeng, the only Vol diver ever to win a national championship in two different events, holds the program record on the 3-meter (495.15) and platform (507.15) while ranking third on the 1-meter (455.60). With his score on the platform, he stands as the only Tennessee diver to eclipse the impressive 500-point margin in the event.
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A two-time SEC Diver of the Year, Zeng won a pair of gold medals at the SEC Championships during his senior campaign, posting the top score on the 3-meter and platform. In total, he brought home four medals during his two seasons with the Vols and earned All-America and All-SEC honors both years.
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"This is an opportunity to learn how to become a competitive, caring and well-respected college coach who supports the team culture by connecting and serving student-athletes," Zeng said.
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Since graduating, the Fujian, China, native has spent stints at Iowa (2019-20) as a graduate assistant coach and Colorado Mesa (2020-21) as the diving coach. With Colorado Mesa, he coached Ammar Hassan to a pair of NCAA Division II titles on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards at the 2021 championships. He also helped Jolynn Harris to a second-place finish on the 1-meter on the women's side. In his lone season with Iowa, Zeng coached a pair of underclassmen divers to All-America honors in three events.
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Before arriving at Tennessee as a student-athlete, Zeng spent three seasons at Ohio State (2014-17), where he was a national champion on the platform in 2016 and won a pair of Big Ten titles.
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For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee swimming & diving on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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"Any time you have the opportunity to bring someone of the caliber of Colin Zeng onto your staff, you have to jump at it," Parrington said. "I am tremendously excited to bring Colin on and for him to work with us. I look forward to helping groom him for a potential college coaching career. He will bring a lot to our program. He boasts a wealth of experience and knowledge."
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Zeng, the only Vol diver ever to win a national championship in two different events, holds the program record on the 3-meter (495.15) and platform (507.15) while ranking third on the 1-meter (455.60). With his score on the platform, he stands as the only Tennessee diver to eclipse the impressive 500-point margin in the event.
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A two-time SEC Diver of the Year, Zeng won a pair of gold medals at the SEC Championships during his senior campaign, posting the top score on the 3-meter and platform. In total, he brought home four medals during his two seasons with the Vols and earned All-America and All-SEC honors both years.
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"This is an opportunity to learn how to become a competitive, caring and well-respected college coach who supports the team culture by connecting and serving student-athletes," Zeng said.
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Since graduating, the Fujian, China, native has spent stints at Iowa (2019-20) as a graduate assistant coach and Colorado Mesa (2020-21) as the diving coach. With Colorado Mesa, he coached Ammar Hassan to a pair of NCAA Division II titles on the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards at the 2021 championships. He also helped Jolynn Harris to a second-place finish on the 1-meter on the women's side. In his lone season with Iowa, Zeng coached a pair of underclassmen divers to All-America honors in three events.
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Before arriving at Tennessee as a student-athlete, Zeng spent three seasons at Ohio State (2014-17), where he was a national champion on the platform in 2016 and won a pair of Big Ten titles.
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For the most up-to-date information about the program, follow Tennessee swimming & diving on Twitter and Instagram and like us on Facebook.
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