McClanahan adds Mark Murdock as diving coach
By HEATHER KENNEDY
UNCBears.com
GREELEY -- He's no stranger to turning and flipping his body off a platform three stories into a body of water and now Mark Murdock will be helping Northern Colorado student-athletes do the same as the diving coach.
Head swimming & diving coach Kelly McClanahan is excited about what the two-time Mountain West Conference Platform Diving Champion will bring to the Bears.
"I am extremely excited to get Mark started with our diving program," she stated. "He has a vast knowledge of the sport and has some excellent coaching to draw off of. Mark's had years of experience diving at the NCAA Division I post-season competitions, as well as the National level – including this year's Olympic Trials."
Murdock and his partner Dashiell Enos finished fifth in the synchronized men's platform at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, while he represented the United States at the Canada Cup for Synchronized Platform Diving in April, 2011.
"I am excited to begin coaching at Northern Colorado," said Murdock. "I look forward to an amazing season."
Originally from Flower Mound, Texas, Murdock received his bachelor's degree in social science from Wyoming in May, 2012 and spent his final year with the Cowboys as the volunteer assistant diving coach.
In addition to being a two-time MW platform champion, Murdock also owns the conference platform record, as well as the Wyoming platform and three-meter records and the UW pool records in both the one-meter and three-meter boards.
"Mark has a young team, with Sara Moldenhauer being our only returner, but I know he will thrive under those circumstances," said McClanahan. "Sara had a huge impact on our program last year and carrying that burden on her own was a lot to bear. I'm excited to see her excel with Mark's coaching, as well as mentoring the rookies walking in. The girls are going to learn a lot from him, and he will take our diving program to the next level."