University of Georgia Athletics
Swimming & Diving
- Title:
- Diving Head Coach
- Email:
- dlaak@sports.uga.edu
Dan Laak, a three-time National Coach of the Year, a four-time SEC Coach of the Year and a three-time coach at the Olympics, enters his 31st season with considerable national and international experience.
Laak has coached two divers to five NCAA titles. Chris Colwill claimed both springboards in 2006 and the 1-meter in 2008, while Laura Ryan swept the springboards in 2014. Laak has produced 12 SEC champions: five by Colwill, three by Jud Campbell, two by Ryan, and one each by Ann-Perry Blank and Olivia Ball. Colwill and Ryan were National Divers of the Year and they were joined by Campbell and Ball as SEC Divers of the Year under Laak’s tutelage.
Laak was picked as the National Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2014. He earned SEC Coach of the Year honors in 2001, 2005 and 2006 with the men and in 2014 with the women.
Laak was a member of the United States coaching staff for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He served on the Brazil staff at the 2016 Rio Games, as UGA volunteer coach Cesar Castro represented his country for the fourth time.
Laak has served as the National Team Coach/Team Leader and/or judge for elite competitions in such countries as China, Canada, Yugoslavia and Spain. He was the Chairman of the NCAA Diving Rules Committee from 1997-2000.
In 2005, Laak was one of three coaches to receive the inaugural Benjamin Foundation Performance Award for outstanding achievement.Â
Laak finished his career at Wisconsin-LaCrosse in 1982 with five All-America and Honorable Mention accolades. Laak graduated with a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration. Laak was inducted into the school’s Athletic Wall of Fame in October 2003.
He and his wife Kim have two sons, Tyler and Justin.
