Todd Spohn
Head Coach
Todd Spohn comes to Santa Clara after serving as the Head Coach for the Mission Viejo Nadadores from November 2006 through May 2011. During Todd’s years at Mission, the club grew from 45 team members up to 120 and the team climbed from 38th at Junior Nationals in 2006 up to 4th in 2011.
Todd began his coaching career at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1986 where he coached both college and club diving for over 20 years. During that time Todd was named Mid-American Conference Diving Coach of the Year eleven times. Three of his divers swept the diving events at the MAC Championships, earning MAC Diver of the Year honors and Miami Athlete of the Year accolades in their respective seasons.
Spohn earned his bachelor’s degree in 1986 and his master’s degree in sport studies in 1993, both from Miami. During his diving career at Miami, Spohn was a six-time MAC finalist and three-time NCAA Zone Championship qualifier. Since his graduation, Spohn has competed and medaled internationally at the Pan Pacific Masters Diving Championship. He also has performed as a professional high diver.
Email: coachtodd@santaclaradiving.com
Mark Butcher
Assistant Coach
Coach Mark began his coaching career in 1998 when he formed a small diving club called Crown Point Diving Club, in a small town 35 miles southeast of Chicago, Illinois. In 2001 Coach Mark was invited to move to Indianapolis to help grow the Indianapolis Starz Diving Club as the first Satellite Coach. During his tenure in Indianapolis, Coach Mark coached and mentored numerous US Diving Junior National qualifiers and finalists, and was named the Starz Diving Club Coach of the Year in 2005. While in Indianapolis, Mark was fortunate to work with some of the greatest minds in diving, including current USA Diving National Training Center Head Coach, John Wingfield. In November of 2005, Mark moved to Oklahoma City and formed Dive Oklahoma. In his short tenure in Oklahoma, Dive Oklahoma produced many Junior National qualifiers and finalists, and 1 US Diving Senior National finalist, and finished 5th as a team at the US Diving West National Championships. Since taking over as the Program Director for the Santa Clara Diving Club, Coach Mark has led SCD back to national relevance, and hopes to continue the march upward. Mark is also the Head Diving Coach for the San Jose State University Spartans.
Email:coachmark@santaclaradiving.com
Zach Whitaker
Assistant Head Coach
Coach Zach began coaching at Fishers High School in Indiana upon graduating with his bachelor’s degree. While at Fishers, he helped to start a new diving club called Fishers Diving. Coach Zach developed the lessons program for the club in addition to coaching the varsity high school team. During his two-year stint at Fishers, he coached 7 IHSAA State qualifiers including 2 IHSAA State finalists. As an assistant coach for Santa Clara Diving, he developed the lessons program that has become the feeder system for the junior olympic team. Coach Zach hopes to help bring the program to the forefront of the national level while teaching safe and fun diving to everyone.
Coach Zach began his diving career while in high school with the Indianapolis Starz Diving Club in Indiana. He went on to dive in college at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. During his four years diving at Ball State University, he qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships on two occasions in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events. Coach Zach also earned several awards including High Point Diver of the year twice and Academic All-MAC team twice. He was also voted as team captain his senior.