Nevada Hires Olympic Medalist Krysta Palmer as Diving Coach
American Olympic medalist Krysta Palmer was hired Monday to replace her mentor Jian Li You as the diving coach at the University of Nevada.
Palmer spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach to You, who announced her intention to retire in February after 29 years coaching the Wolfpack. Since Palmer joined the Nevada staff, its divers have won 32 medals (14 gold) at the Mountain West Championships and had a pair of divers named All-American.
“I am incredibly honored to step into this coaching position, where I can give back, inspire, and uplift the next generation of Nevada Swimming and Diving student athletes,” Palmer said in a university statement. “This feels like a full-circle moment for me, returning to the place where I fell in love with diving. Working alongside Jian Li You has been an amazing experience. I know I have big shoes to fill, but Jian Li has equipped me with the tools I need to embrace this leadership role. This sport and the University of Nevada have given me so much, and I am excited to share my passion and experience to help guide the next generation of divers.”
Palmer was named the Mountain West Diver of the Year in 2015 and 2016. When her college career ended, she returned to Reno as a volunteer assistant before joining the staff in a full capacity in addition to continuing her professional diving career.
Palmer won a bronze medal in the mixed team competition at the 2017 World Championships, then won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 on 3-meter springboard. It was the first American female diving medal earned since 2000 and the first on 3-meter since 1988.
“We are so excited to have Krysta join our program now as our dive coach,” head swimming and diving coach Brendon Bray said. “As a student, post-grad, NCAA qualifier, Mountain West champion and Olympic medalist, Krysta has always represented our program and community in an absolute first-class manner and now has the opportunity to turn the page and start a new chapter in a new role serving as our diving coach. We are looking forward to continuing to improve and keep our program at a championship level with her in this new position.”
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