Martin Finley Becomes Clemson’s New Diving Coach

Oct. 7, 1999

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson head swimming coach Bruce Marchionda announced today the hiring of Martin Finley as the Tigers’ new diving coach. Finley has served as the New Zealand national team coach since 1995.

Under Finley’s direction, New Zealand athletes have placed at the 1997 World Junior Championships, the 1997 World Championships, the 1998 Commonwealth Games and most recently at the 1999 FINA World Diving Cup. The 1997 and 1998 New Zealand Coach of the Year, Finley coached one diver to a top eight finish at the World Championships.

Finley has also coached the Diving Otago club team since 1995. The team won top honors at both the Winter and Summer National Championships from 1996-98. Diving Otago was the New Zealand Diving Team of the Year in 1996 and 1997.

From 1994-95 Finley was the head diving coach at Arkansas, where he produced two National Independent Champions and was honored as the National Independent Championships Coach of the Year.

Prior to his time at Arkansas, Finley served as an assistant diving coach at Northern Arizona from 1992-94, where he coached an NCAA Finalist and four conference champions.

Finley earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arkansas-Little Rock in 1989.