Hobie BillingsleyAgainst all odds to be a success, Hobie overcame insurmountable odds to become the World's Greatest Diving Coach in the history of the sport.At the young age of 3 his father walked out on the family leaving him and his older brother and mother pennilss during the Great Depression. He fought through hunger and homelessness with the help of two men who mentored him at the Erie, Pennsylvania YMCA.At an early age, he taught himself to swim and when the team needed a diver he tried out and liked the challenge. Eventually he would also become a gymnast and cheerleader for the high school.As his diving skills improved to become the Pennsylvania state high school champion, the coach suggested he compete at the National AAU Championships. There, the top Ohio State University divers gave him pointers he could take back to his coach, and he became the first high school diver to place in the finals of a national championship.He enrolled at Ohio State and became the first All-American for all four years. World War II called him into service in Okinawa where the war with Japan ended and he resumed his college diving career, and head athletic cheerleader on the sidelines for all the football games.After college, Hobie and Bruce Harlan formed a popular clown diving act performing at schools, hotels, and country clubs all over the United States. After a short high school coaching stint, he became only the 2nd diving coach ever hired by a college or university. In 1959, he came to Indiana University to start an unequaled diving dynasty that continues today. He started with very poor facilities and no committed divers with any skills. Then Rick Gilbert came to Indiana when they moved into the new Royer Pool facility. Rick became his first national champion his freshman year that attracted other great talent to the school.He was the first to coach women in any sport, and did so without pay well before Title IX guaranteed equal rights for women athletes in 1972.Along with head swimming coach, Doc Counsilman, together they won 23 Big Ten Championships and 6 NCAA Division I titles.Hobie was selected as the Olympic Diving Coach 5 times and coached 132 National Champions. After retiring in 1989 he gave diving clinics and judged major competitions all over the world, and in 1996 was selected to administer the Olympic Oath to all the judges at the Atlanta Olympics - a great honor.His leadership was evident by forming the World Diving Coaches Association and the United States Diving Coaches Association. In 1983, he received the high honor of being inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.He continued to have a profound effect on the diving community with the publication of - Diving Illustrated and A Comprehensive View of Competitive Diving, and lectures to divers in summer camps, high school students, and collegiate athletic departments. Born December 2, 1926. Died July 16, 2022 Read More Read Less