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Roland McDonald, entering his eighth season as the men's and women's diving coach, continues to be the chief architect of George Mason's intercollegiate diving team. This past year, Mason's women's divers outscored all the other conference teams at the CAA Championships, placing four individuals in the finals in the 1-meter diving event and three in the finals for the 3-meter. During the 2005-06 season, McDonald was tabbed as the women's Colonial Athletic Association Diving Coach of the Year for the second-consecutive season. In 2005, Mary Campioli earned CAA Diver of the Year, which made it the second-straight year for a female Patriot to receive this honor and Amanda Fielding was named league Rookie Diver of the Year. In addition, Campioli was named Outstanding Female Diver of the CAA Championships. Five divers competed at the NCAA Zone Championships: John Appleman, Campioli, Amanda Fielding, Colleen Flack and Liz Gabriel. Mason once again dominated in the diving competitions at the 2005 CAA Championships in Fairfax. Four Patriots on the women's side finished in the top-10 in both diving events, with Campioli winning both the 1-meter and the 3-meter and Gabriel placing second in the 3-meter. Mason had three in the top-10 in both events for the men, with Appleman placing second in the 3-meter and third in the 1-meter event. In 2004, the Patriots' Jamie Downing was named female CAA Diver of the Year and four divers competed at the NCAA Zone Championships: Appleman, Downing, Ashley Craw and Colleen Flack. Mason had a strong showing in its divers at the 2004 conference championships as six women and four men finished in the top-10 in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, which included a first place performance by Downing on the 1-meter board. During the 2002-03 season, Appleman was named male CAA Rookie Diver of the Year and five divers competed at the NCAA Zone Championships. Mary Campioli became the first Mason diver, male or female, to see action at the NCAA Championships. At the 2002-03 CAA Championships, the Patriots dominated in the diving events as five women finished in the top-8 on both the one and three-meter boards. The Patriots had an excellent 2000-01 season with a relatively young squad. Kyle Troop and Downing were named CAA male and female Rookie Divers of the Year. Downing also qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships, where she placed fourth in the platform, fifth on the one-meter board and 10th on the three-meter board. McDonald, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., attended Clemson University from 1981-83, before obtaining his degree in chemical physics from Michigan State University in 1987. He was a Big Ten Conference finalist, an NCAA national finalist and was named Michigan State's MVP in 1986. In over 25 years of coaching, McDonald has earned much respect, especially in the local area as reflected by his selection for numerous prestigious coaching assignments. Most recently, McDonald worked at the Montgomery Dive Club, where he was employed as an assistant dive coach for a national top-10 program. In addition to assisting with the on-deck coaching of children from ages 5 to 18, the program also consisted of top senior athletes training toward the goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials. McDonald also served as the head dive coach at the SuperNova Dive Club from 1996-97. Prior to working with SuperNova, McDonald served as assistant dive coach at the Northern Virginia Dive Club where he helped boost the club to nationally-ranked status for the first time. Prior to his arrival at NVDC, the program had never achieved a top-20 ranking. Along with coaching, McDonald was a performer for both Global Productions and Florida's Cypress Garden. He performed stunt, springboard, comedy and high diving routines at various parks and festivals around the world. He was the Most Valuable Performer in both 1988 and 1990. Other awards include being a three-time World Cup High Diving Champion, two-time Mediterranean Cup Champion and a three-time Acapulco Cliff Diving finalist. Since 1996, he has served as a vice president for promotions and special events for Global Productions. McDonald holds memberships in U.S. Diving, Potomac Valley Diving Association and Professional High Diving Association. He is also a U.S Diving Safety Certified Coach, certified for CPR, First Aid and for PADI Open Water Scuba Diving. McDonald resides in Annandale with his wife, Jane, and their three children, Skeeter (26), Christa (20), and Michael (19). |
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