Hocking Named To U.S. Coaching Staff For World University Games

Lincoln, Neb. -- Nebraska Head Diving Coach Jim Hocking has been named to the coaching staff of the U.S. National team that will represent the United States at the 1999 World University Games, July 1-13 in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Hocking, who recently completed his 10th season as the head men's and women's diving coach at Nebraska, will join Matt Scoggin, who is the head diving coach at the University of Texas, as the United States co-head coach for the competition.

Hocking was also named to the U.S. coaching staff for the 1993 World University Games. A five-time women's Big Eight Coach of the Year and three-time men's honoree, Hocking was nominated for NCAA Coach of the Year at the 1998 Men's NCAA Championships.

Among the five male athletes who are representing the United States at the 1999 World University Games are former Husker Travis Niemeyer and current NU diver Erik Cook.

"It's just a tremendous honor to be named to the position and have the opportunity to coach the best collegiate divers in the country at the most prestigious event for collegiate athletes in the world," Hocking said. "It's particularly satisfying to know two Nebraska athletes on the roster."

Niemeyer, still enrolled as a full time student at Nebraska, is eligible for the competition after qualifying with a third-place showing on the one meter at the 1999 U.S. Sprint Nationals on April 16. Niemeyer competed for Nebraska during the spring semester of the 1996 season after transferring from Southern Illinois. He was named the 1996 Co-Big Eight Diver of the Year after winning the one and three meter on the conference level. He went on to earn All-America honors on both boards.

Cook recently completed his junior year of eligibility at Nebraska, earning All-America honors on both the one and three meter. He qualified for the World University Games team by finishing one spot behind Niemeyer, in fourth place on the one meter at the U.S. Spring National meet.