Jeff DiNicola served as the Razorbacks’ diving coach for three seasons from 2013-16.
In 2015-16, DiNicola coached Nicole Gillis to the first NCAA Championships appearance of her career and the program’s first NCAA qualifier since 2008. At the 2016 NCAA Zone D Diving qualifier, Gillis posted a 12-dive total of 651.60 to take sixth overall in the 3m springboard event. She also produced a top-10 finish in the 1m springboard event. In addition, Gillis, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, placed fifth with a personal-best 310.00 points in the 1m springboard finals at the 2016 SEC Championships.
In his second season with the Razorbacks, DiNicola had 100% Zone Qualification for all his divers and had two divers achieve career bests at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships. On senior day, three divers set multiple personal-bests on the one and three-meter boards.
DiNicola boasts seven years of collegiate coaching experience from the University of Nebraska, the University of New Mexico and Southwest Missouri State.
DiNicola coached at the University of Nebraska from 2003-05. While at Nebraska, he coached multiple NCAA Zone Diving Championship divers and an NCAA qualifier in 2005.
DiNicola coached at the University of New Mexico from 2000-03, building the university’s first diving program in five years. DiNicola was named Mountain West Conference Diving Coach of the Year in 2003 and placed divers at NCAA Zone Diving Championships each of his three seasons.
From 1999-2000, DiNicola coached at his alma mater, Southwest Missouri State, where he earned Missouri Valley Coach of the Year in his first season. He coached a male MVC Diver of the Year and a female diver who placed second on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards.
In addition to running age-group diving programs at New Mexico and Nebraska, DiNicola was an assistant diving coach at Longhorn Aquatics prior to Arkansas and coached at New Mexico High School from 2006-12. While at New Mexico High School, DiNicola coached a top-three finisher in the state meet each year, including two state champions.
DiNicola attended Southwest Missouri State from 1996-99, lettering each year. Named MVC Diver of the Year twice, DiNicola also earned All-MVC honors three consecutive years and set an SMS school record on the 3-meter board. He received his degree from SMS in 2000 in drafting and design with options in architectural/civil and mechanical engineering with a minor in construction.
Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, DiNicola was a three-year letterman at Southwest High School.
DiNicola is married to the former Vanessa Hunt. They have two children, son Talan, and daughter, Taryn.
