Patrick S. JEFFREY

Patrick Jeffrey competed on platform for the US at the 1988 and 1996 Olympics, placing 12th in 1988 and 9th in 1996. He also won bronze medals on platform at the 1991 and 1995 Pan American Games. Jeffrey dove in college at The Ohio State University. In 1988 he swept the three diving events at the NCAAs, winning the 1-metre springboard, the 3-metre springboard, and the platform, the first time anyone had won all three events in one year. Jeffrey would eventually become a five-time US Champion, three times on the platform (1992-93, 1995) and twice on the 3-meter springboard (1991, 1994).

Jeffrey came out shortly before the 1996 Olympics, and became one of the first openly gay athletes to compete at the Olympics. He later became a diving coach, starting at Florida Atlantic University from 1996-99, and in 1999 was named head coach at Florida State University. Under his guidance the Seminoles dominated the Atlanta Coast Conference in diving. In 1997 and 1999 Jeffrey served as USA Senior World Cup team coach and was the Senior National team coach from 1997-99. He was also the 1998 Junior National Team Coach. In 2005 Jeffrey was elected to The Ohio State Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2014 Jeffrey moved to Stanford as the head diving coach.