Founder and club owner
Phil Hoffmann
Phil Hoffmann, a 2007 Ohio State graduate, coached Illinois State University diving from 2007 to 2020.
Prior to his coaching career at ISU, Coach Hoffmann worked with top junior and senior level divers at the U.S. Elite Diving Academy and the Ohio State University and at Texas Longhorn Diving Camp. He has coached many national champions and Olympic hopefuls. During Coach Hoffmann’s first season at ISU he had a conference champion and 8 top eight finishers in the MVC Conference Championship. During the 2012 season Hoffmann had a conference champion on both the 1 meter and 3 meter boards. In 2009, 2010 and 2012 he had a NCAA Zone Qualifier. He was named Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2012 for his accomplishments.
He is a safety certified U.S. diving Coach and has extensive water and dryland training experience. This includes proficiency at safety harness spotting over water and land. Coach Hoffmann started Redbird Diving Club in 2007 with a handful of prospective divers. Today Redbird Diving Club has grown exponentially and now travels competitively throughout the year.
Prior to his coaching career at ISU, Coach Hoffmann worked with top junior and senior level divers at the U.S. Elite Diving Academy and the Ohio State University and at Texas Longhorn Diving Camp. He has coached many national champions and Olympic hopefuls. During Coach Hoffmann’s first season at ISU he had a conference champion and 8 top eight finishers in the MVC Conference Championship. During the 2012 season Hoffmann had a conference champion on both the 1 meter and 3 meter boards. In 2009, 2010 and 2012 he had a NCAA Zone Qualifier. He was named Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2012 for his accomplishments.
He is a safety certified U.S. diving Coach and has extensive water and dryland training experience. This includes proficiency at safety harness spotting over water and land. Coach Hoffmann started Redbird Diving Club in 2007 with a handful of prospective divers. Today Redbird Diving Club has grown exponentially and now travels competitively throughout the year.
Coaches & Instructors
Ben Eicher - Head Coach
Ben Eicher, an alumni of Illinois State, joined the Redbird Diving Club in 2007. Ben previously coached for Redbird Diving in the late 90’s under then Head Coach Ron Kontura. Ben has over 30 years of competitive diving coaching experience from beginner to elite levels. In 1989 Ben helped found Frederick Area Divers in Frederick, MD which he coached as an assistant for 4 years and as head coach for 3 years. Ben was awarded Diving Coach of the Year by the NJCAA in 1995 while coaching at Lincoln College. He also coached at Normal West High School, training 3 time All American and state finalist Justin Ruszkowski and several Illinois State Championship qualifiers. Ben’s extensive experience teaching the fundamentals of springboard diving includes skill progressions on trampoline, dry-land mat drills, hand spotting and safety harness spotting at all levels.
Emily Nord - Developmental Coach
Emily coaches our Novice Prep and Development Squad. Emily dived and graduated from University High School before going on to dive with legendary Michigan dive coach Dick Kimble in college. Emily brings a wealth of diving experience and knowledge to our program.