Head Coach
Phil Hoffmann
Phil Hoffmann, a 2007 Ohio State graduate, joined Illinois State University as Head Diving Coach during the 2007-08 school year. Hoffmann is a Bloomington-Normal native and a former Illinois State student assistant coach from 1999-2004.
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 - Associate 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. 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 on tramp, wet and dry 1 meter boards.
Emily Nord - Assistant 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.
Brandis Heffner - Assistant Coach
Brandis graduated from University High School where he became the Illinois Boys State Diving Champion in 2013. Brandis went on to dive at the the University of Iowa for 4 years. During his senior year there Brandis posted a collegiate-best performance off the 1-meter (350.93) and season-best performances off the 3-meter (361.55) and platform (239.70)… posted an NCAA Zone Diving standard off 1-meter and 3-meter… led the team off the 3-meter…. placed 14th off the 1-meter (624.75) and 3-meter (672.75) at the NCAA Zone D Diving Championships… named the Big Ten Conference Diver of the Week on Oct. 5… placed 20th off the 3-meter at the Big Ten Championships (326.50)… honorable mention CSCAA Scholar All-American... Academic All-Big Ten... named to Dean's List during spring semester.
Andie Bernhardt - Assistant Coach & Lessons Instructor
Andie is a member of the Illinois State University Women's diving team with many years of diving experience behind her. Diving for Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, WI, Andie broke school records for 6 and 11 dives … diver MVP senior year … 6 dive highest score of 227.95 … 11 dive highest score of 389 … she also dived for Schroeder Dive Club.