John Ames Position: Diving Coach Experience: 8th Season Education: Ohio University, 1993

John Ames is in his eighth season as diving coach for the Yellow Jacket swimming and diving program. Last season, he coached Tech's first female diving All-American as then-sophomore Hannah Krimm finished seventh on the three-meter springboard. Krimm was also recognized as a honorable mention All-American on the one-meter board, while then-senior Stephanie England was a honorable mention All-American in the three-meter and platform events. The Tech divers accounted for all 21 of the Jackets' total points at the NCAA Championships helping them to a 30th-place finish -- it's highest in program history.

At the 2007-08 ACC Championships, Ames led Krimm to a second-place finish on the one-meter board, while England was second in the platform and third in the three-meter. Krimm, England and then freshman Michele Bertolino all qualified for the NCAA Zone Championship, with Krimm and England moving on to NCAA's in Columbus, Ohio.

Under Ames' tutelage, Evan Stowers became the first Tech diver to qualify for the NCAA Championships in 2006. In the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center, Stowers again made history by finishing seventh on the men's platform, becoming the first Tech diver to garner All-America honors. In 2007, Stowers returned to the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors for the second consecutive season.

At the 2006 ACC Championships, Stowers became just the second GT diver, first under Ames, to win an ACC championship as he captured the men's three-meter springboard. He also became the first diver to earn All-ACC honors on both springboards Besides Stowers, Krimm and England, two other Tech divers have garnered all-conference honors under Ames' guidance. Former men's diving standout Paul McCarty (2001-04) earned All-ACC honors on the one-meter springboard in 2002, while former diver Tony Burkhardt accomplished that same feat at the '05 ACC Championships.

In 2005, the women's diving program took its first steps towards being a force at the ACC Championships, as junior Laurissa Prystaj and England both finaled on the three-meter board, making it the highest scoring event for Tech in women's diving history. The duo of England and Krimm trumped that performance when both Yellow Jacket divers qualified for the finals in all events. The duo then took another step forward when they combined to garner All-ACC in every diving event at the 2008 conference championships, and followed that up with All-American honors.

Along with his coaching duties at Tech, Ames also mentors the Atlanta Diving Association, which has quickly become the top United States Diving program in the state of Georgia. This season, his divers won three individual National Championships, while one went on to qualify for Junior World Championships.

Hired in August 2001, Ames came to Tech from George Washington University and the Montgomery Dive Club, one of the largest diving programs in the nation. Prior to his stint with Montomery and George Washington, Ames served as an assistant coach with the Northern Virginia Dive Club. He also worked as a graduate assistant and diving coach at Western Illinois University.

Ames graduated from Ohio University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in psychology after completing his collegiate diving career with the Bobcats. He earned a Master of Science degree in sport administration while at Western Illinois.