Eastern Michigan Athletics
Perkins Tabs Tom Gimm as Head Diving Coach
6/20/2024 1:09:00 PM | Swimming & Diving, General
Gimm brings extensive club and collegiate coaching experience to Ypsilanti
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University Swimming & Diving program and Head Swimming Coach Derek Perkins announced the hiring of Tom Gimm as the Eagles' Head Diving Coach Thursday, June 20.
"I am ecstatic to have Tom join our staff. He has developed divers from all ages and all platforms to some of the highest levels the sport has to offer." said Perkins. "His interconnectedness with club and college coaching experience will bode well for the future of EMU Swim and Dive. I am thrilled to work with Tom and I cannot wait for our team to officially meet him."
"I would like to thank Coach Perkins along with Scott Wetherbee and Stacie McMullen for this wonderful opportunity to serve Eastern Michigan University as the Diving Coach," Gimm added. "EMU has a strong diving history and I look forward to continuing that path of excellence for the current and future athletes."
A native of Shoreview, Minn., Gimm most recently served as the Head Diving Coach/Director of Diving Operations for Moss Farms Diving, a junior diving powerhouse with a state-of-the-art facility in Moultrie, Ga. Most recently, his Flying Tigers placed second in the 2024 USA Diving Zone B Championships held at the Moss Farms Diving Facility. Gimm also coached high school standout Tuck Gregory to a Georgia High School Association Individual State Championship in 2024.
Finishing second at the GHSAA State Championships was former back-to-back state champion and University of Georgia commit, Bo Bridges, who was also mentored by Gimm.
2023 served as a high-flying year for Gimm's divers. He mentored ElliReese Niday to the 2023 Pan American Championships, where she won the 1m, 3m, and platform events. He also led five different athletes to top-12 finishes at the 2023 Junior National Championships (JNC), three of which earned gold medals while one earned bronze.
Niday went on to make a splash in the diving world this winter. At the age of 11, she was the youngest competitor at the USA Diving Winter National Championships.
In 2022, Gimm led Niday and Beck Gregory to respective USA Diving JNC's, while Moss Farms slotted third overall at the prestigious meet.
2021 saw Gimm coach current Indiana Hoosier, Carson Tyler to the 2021 United States Olympic Trials. Both Tyler and Niday qualified for the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships that season, while the Flying Tigers were crowned 2021 USA Diving National Champions on the backs of two Moss Farms athletes earning individual national championships.
Tyler has excelled with Gimm's tutelage. Now a junior at IU, he has gone on to collect two Big Ten Championships, was named Big Ten Diver of the Championships along with first team all-conference in 2023, and has raked-in four Big Ten Diver of the Week awards from 2022-23.
He had a stint with the Mile High Diving Club as an Administrator and Coach from 2018-19. There, Gimm oversaw the training of three power conference divers in Quinn Hennigan (IU), Clay Chaplin (Ohio State), and Jack Ryan (Stanford).
With Mile High, Ryan was a multiple time state champion and won four USA Diving Region 9 Team Championships. At OSU, Chaplin earned First Team All-America honors in the 2022-23 season with a sixth-place performance in the platform, scoring 393.55.
Gimm brings prior Mid-American Conference experience with him to Ypsilanti, as he acted as the Head Diving Coach at Ohio University from 2016-18. While in Athens, Gimm's top Bobcat, Olivia Dillion placed top-12 in the platform with a score of 466.5 at the 2017 NCAA Zone C Championships.
He served as the Administrator and Diving Coach for the Kentucky Diving Club from 2011-16. 2016 proved to be a successful year for the KDC as 20 qualified for USA Zone Diving Championships and 16 made the cut to compete at the JNC's, culminating in a top-12 junior national finalist. Moreover, Gimm played a pivotal role in the KDC doubling in size over a two-year period during his time with the club.
Gimm cut his teeth in collegiate athletics with Transylvania University from 2011-15. In his time at TU, the Pioneers' coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year by the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in the 2013-14 season following a fourth-place finish at the OAC Championships.
Gimm and Perkins share an alma mater as both are graduates and former swimming & diving student-athletes at the University of Kentucky. As a Wildcat, Gimm placed top-20 on all three boards at the Southeastern Conference Championships. He competed for two years prior to suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery. Gimm graduated from UK in 2013 with a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in exercise science.
He spent his high school days at Moundsview High School and graduated in 2008. At Moundsview, Gimm was named an All-American diver, was a state finalist, and a sectional champion from his freshman-senior campaigns.
Outside of work, Gimm enjoys golf and music, as he plays five instruments and participated in a family band during his youth.
He also married a diver, Emily. Together, they have two children, Josephine and Otto.
Follow Us
To stay up to date with all things Eastern Swim and Dive, follow the team's social media accounts @emuswimanddive on Instagram; @EMUSwimDive on X; and EMU Swimming and Diving on Facebook.
"I am ecstatic to have Tom join our staff. He has developed divers from all ages and all platforms to some of the highest levels the sport has to offer." said Perkins. "His interconnectedness with club and college coaching experience will bode well for the future of EMU Swim and Dive. I am thrilled to work with Tom and I cannot wait for our team to officially meet him."
"I would like to thank Coach Perkins along with Scott Wetherbee and Stacie McMullen for this wonderful opportunity to serve Eastern Michigan University as the Diving Coach," Gimm added. "EMU has a strong diving history and I look forward to continuing that path of excellence for the current and future athletes."
A native of Shoreview, Minn., Gimm most recently served as the Head Diving Coach/Director of Diving Operations for Moss Farms Diving, a junior diving powerhouse with a state-of-the-art facility in Moultrie, Ga. Most recently, his Flying Tigers placed second in the 2024 USA Diving Zone B Championships held at the Moss Farms Diving Facility. Gimm also coached high school standout Tuck Gregory to a Georgia High School Association Individual State Championship in 2024.
Finishing second at the GHSAA State Championships was former back-to-back state champion and University of Georgia commit, Bo Bridges, who was also mentored by Gimm.
2023 served as a high-flying year for Gimm's divers. He mentored ElliReese Niday to the 2023 Pan American Championships, where she won the 1m, 3m, and platform events. He also led five different athletes to top-12 finishes at the 2023 Junior National Championships (JNC), three of which earned gold medals while one earned bronze.
Niday went on to make a splash in the diving world this winter. At the age of 11, she was the youngest competitor at the USA Diving Winter National Championships.
In 2022, Gimm led Niday and Beck Gregory to respective USA Diving JNC's, while Moss Farms slotted third overall at the prestigious meet.
2021 saw Gimm coach current Indiana Hoosier, Carson Tyler to the 2021 United States Olympic Trials. Both Tyler and Niday qualified for the 2021 Junior Pan American Championships that season, while the Flying Tigers were crowned 2021 USA Diving National Champions on the backs of two Moss Farms athletes earning individual national championships.
Tyler has excelled with Gimm's tutelage. Now a junior at IU, he has gone on to collect two Big Ten Championships, was named Big Ten Diver of the Championships along with first team all-conference in 2023, and has raked-in four Big Ten Diver of the Week awards from 2022-23.
He had a stint with the Mile High Diving Club as an Administrator and Coach from 2018-19. There, Gimm oversaw the training of three power conference divers in Quinn Hennigan (IU), Clay Chaplin (Ohio State), and Jack Ryan (Stanford).
With Mile High, Ryan was a multiple time state champion and won four USA Diving Region 9 Team Championships. At OSU, Chaplin earned First Team All-America honors in the 2022-23 season with a sixth-place performance in the platform, scoring 393.55.
Gimm brings prior Mid-American Conference experience with him to Ypsilanti, as he acted as the Head Diving Coach at Ohio University from 2016-18. While in Athens, Gimm's top Bobcat, Olivia Dillion placed top-12 in the platform with a score of 466.5 at the 2017 NCAA Zone C Championships.
He served as the Administrator and Diving Coach for the Kentucky Diving Club from 2011-16. 2016 proved to be a successful year for the KDC as 20 qualified for USA Zone Diving Championships and 16 made the cut to compete at the JNC's, culminating in a top-12 junior national finalist. Moreover, Gimm played a pivotal role in the KDC doubling in size over a two-year period during his time with the club.
Gimm cut his teeth in collegiate athletics with Transylvania University from 2011-15. In his time at TU, the Pioneers' coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year by the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) in the 2013-14 season following a fourth-place finish at the OAC Championships.
Gimm and Perkins share an alma mater as both are graduates and former swimming & diving student-athletes at the University of Kentucky. As a Wildcat, Gimm placed top-20 on all three boards at the Southeastern Conference Championships. He competed for two years prior to suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing surgery. Gimm graduated from UK in 2013 with a Bachelor's of Science in Kinesiology with a focus in exercise science.
He spent his high school days at Moundsview High School and graduated in 2008. At Moundsview, Gimm was named an All-American diver, was a state finalist, and a sectional champion from his freshman-senior campaigns.
Outside of work, Gimm enjoys golf and music, as he plays five instruments and participated in a family band during his youth.
He also married a diver, Emily. Together, they have two children, Josephine and Otto.
Follow Us
To stay up to date with all things Eastern Swim and Dive, follow the team's social media accounts @emuswimanddive on Instagram; @EMUSwimDive on X; and EMU Swimming and Diving on Facebook.
Inside the Ride Episode 2: Katie Condon
Thursday, October 16
🎥 Eastern in 60 Seconds: Part 8
Tuesday, October 14
Season 8 - Episode 8: Defensive Strength vs. NIU and Hall of Fame Excellence
Monday, October 13
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 8 at Miami
Monday, October 13