Eastern Michigan Athletics
Swimming & Diving
Smith, Buck
Buck Smith
- Title:
- Head Diving Coach
- Email:
- lsmith@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.751.8178
Loren “Buck” Smith began his 24th season as the head diving coach Eastern Michigan University in 2023-24.
During his tenure at Eastern Michigan University, Smith has qualified nine female divers to the NCAA Championships, while producing three NCAA All-Americans, including Kelly Hendricks who placed third on 3-meter at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Smith has had six First Team All-MAC selections, 10 Second Team All-MAC honorees, won 13 MAC Championship individual titles, and had three divers named MAC Divers of the Year a total of seven times, along with one MAC Freshman Diver of the Year. He has also been named MAC Diving Coach of the Year 15 times on the women’s side, and 10 times on the men's side.
2023-24 saw Smith earn his 15th MAC Diving Coach of the Year Award on the women's side following Rebekah Knapp's All-MAC Second Team selection at the 2024 MAC Championships. Knapp secured a second-place finish in the 3m dive with a personal-best score of 306.90. She became Smith's 10th All-MAC Second Team selection, and 16th total All-MAC honoree. Furthermore, five Eastern divers qualified to compete at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships.
In 2022-23, Smith led EMU divers to new heights at the MAC Championships. Ciara Wheeler registered a fourth-place mark in the 1-meter dive, improving upon her prelim score in outstanding fashion (270.36). Additionally, Camryn Hughes finished sixth in the 3-meter dive, with a score of 276.50.
In 2021-2022, Smith helped qualify four EMU divers to NCAA Zone Diving Championships. Additionally, senior diver Bethany Berger earned second place in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at MAC Championships, garnering Second Team All-MAC honors. It was Berger’s second time being selected to an All-MAC Team and her first time tabbed to the Second Team. Furthermore, Smith guided Berger to three top-10 program scores for Eastern.
In 2020-21, Smith was honored as the MAC Co-Diving Coach of the Year and helped Bethany Berger sweep both diving events (1-meter and 3-meter) at the MAC Championships, April 17. The tenured head coach also guided Berger to a First Team All-MAC selection and a NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships appearance.
In 2019-20, Smith guided Bethany Berger, Micaela Schempf, Sophia Tsafantakis, and Keira Veltigian to College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America honors, the first for the program since Kelly Hendricks and Danielle Hulvey in 2013. Smith also aided Tsafantakis to All-Mid-American Conference Second Team accolades for the second consecutive season. Four of his divers qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, including Tsafantakis for the fourth time in as many seasons. Despite the event being shuttered halfway through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Berger advanced to the finals of the 1-meter diving event after earning a 15th-place preliminary finish. Smith was also named the MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the 11th time in his career.
2018-19 saw nine EMU divers advance to the championship heats across 1-meter and 3-meter diving at the MAC Championships, led by Sophia Tsafantakis’ third-place (3-meter) and fourth-place (1-meter) finishes. Tsafantakis also collected Second Team All-MAC accolades for her performance. Smith was named the MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the 10th time, and third consecutive season. Following the MAC Championships, Smith also aided Tsafantakis, Bethany Berger, Gabrielle Mace and Micaela Schempf to NCAA Zone C Championship berths.
Named the 2017-18 MAC Diving Coach of the Year, Smith saw record-setting success for the Eagle divers. For the first time in five seasons, the Eagles women’s divers had a representative at the NCAA Championships in Alli Shereda. Shereda’s 35th place finish in Columbus was the best for Eastern divers since Kelly Hendrick’s 2013 third place finish. In addition to this success, for the first time in his career, Smith had a Mid-American Conference freshman diver of the year in Micaela Schempf.
In 2006, Smith’s divers played a vital role in the EMU women’s first-ever MAC Championship. The Eagles placed five of the top seven divers on the one-meter board and claimed four of the top six places from the three-meter. On the men’s side, they placed three divers in the top five on the three-meter board and three of the top seven spots on the one-meter. Smith was named MAC Coach of the Year following the meet.
While also in charge of the men’s diving program, Smith qualified seven male divers to the NCAA Championships, had two NCAA All-Americans, was the 10-time MAC men’s Diving Coach of the Year, won nine MAC Championship individual titles, had two MAC Divers of the Year, and set two MAC records.
Prior to Eastern Michigan, Smith was the coach at Oakland University during the 1999-2000 season where he coached the Mid-Continent Conference Diver of the Year and qualified three divers for the Division I Zone meet.
Smith is also the head diving coach for Legacy Diving. In the 10-year history of Legacy Diving, Smith has had 65 junior national qualifiers, 40 junior national finalists, 22 national champions, seven silver medalists and five bronze medalists. He has had a Junior World Finalist and coached his team to three Junior Olympic Regional titles, as well as a third place finish at the 2007 East National Championships. Additionally, Smith has coached six Canadian Junior Olympic National finalists. At the senior national level, Smith has had 28 Senior National qualifiers and 15 finalists, along with coaching the 2006 US Open one-meter men’s champion.
Legacy Diving won the US Open team title in 2006, as well as taking third place for the men’s team and fifth place overall at the 2005 Senior National Championships. In 2009, Smith had a diver place fifth on three-meter, and 10th on platform at the Spring Nationals. At the 2009 Summer Senior Nationals, he had the women’s fifth place finisher on one meter, and third place finisher on three-meter. Another diver placed ninth on platform. Smith also had a diver final at the FINA Grand Prix. In 2009, Smith’s divers took fifth place for the women, and seventh place overall at the Summer Senior Nationals.
In 2010, Smith was awarded the Bruce Harlan Award by the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) for continued leadership, contributions, and dedicated service to Michigan High School Diving.
Smith lives in Ypsilanti with his wife, Kara, and daughters, Allie and Karlie.
During his tenure at Eastern Michigan University, Smith has qualified nine female divers to the NCAA Championships, while producing three NCAA All-Americans, including Kelly Hendricks who placed third on 3-meter at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Smith has had six First Team All-MAC selections, 10 Second Team All-MAC honorees, won 13 MAC Championship individual titles, and had three divers named MAC Divers of the Year a total of seven times, along with one MAC Freshman Diver of the Year. He has also been named MAC Diving Coach of the Year 15 times on the women’s side, and 10 times on the men's side.
2023-24 saw Smith earn his 15th MAC Diving Coach of the Year Award on the women's side following Rebekah Knapp's All-MAC Second Team selection at the 2024 MAC Championships. Knapp secured a second-place finish in the 3m dive with a personal-best score of 306.90. She became Smith's 10th All-MAC Second Team selection, and 16th total All-MAC honoree. Furthermore, five Eastern divers qualified to compete at the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships.
In 2022-23, Smith led EMU divers to new heights at the MAC Championships. Ciara Wheeler registered a fourth-place mark in the 1-meter dive, improving upon her prelim score in outstanding fashion (270.36). Additionally, Camryn Hughes finished sixth in the 3-meter dive, with a score of 276.50.
In 2021-2022, Smith helped qualify four EMU divers to NCAA Zone Diving Championships. Additionally, senior diver Bethany Berger earned second place in both the 1-meter and 3-meter dives at MAC Championships, garnering Second Team All-MAC honors. It was Berger’s second time being selected to an All-MAC Team and her first time tabbed to the Second Team. Furthermore, Smith guided Berger to three top-10 program scores for Eastern.
In 2020-21, Smith was honored as the MAC Co-Diving Coach of the Year and helped Bethany Berger sweep both diving events (1-meter and 3-meter) at the MAC Championships, April 17. The tenured head coach also guided Berger to a First Team All-MAC selection and a NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships appearance.
In 2019-20, Smith guided Bethany Berger, Micaela Schempf, Sophia Tsafantakis, and Keira Veltigian to College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-America honors, the first for the program since Kelly Hendricks and Danielle Hulvey in 2013. Smith also aided Tsafantakis to All-Mid-American Conference Second Team accolades for the second consecutive season. Four of his divers qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships, including Tsafantakis for the fourth time in as many seasons. Despite the event being shuttered halfway through due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Berger advanced to the finals of the 1-meter diving event after earning a 15th-place preliminary finish. Smith was also named the MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the 11th time in his career.
2018-19 saw nine EMU divers advance to the championship heats across 1-meter and 3-meter diving at the MAC Championships, led by Sophia Tsafantakis’ third-place (3-meter) and fourth-place (1-meter) finishes. Tsafantakis also collected Second Team All-MAC accolades for her performance. Smith was named the MAC Diving Coach of the Year for the 10th time, and third consecutive season. Following the MAC Championships, Smith also aided Tsafantakis, Bethany Berger, Gabrielle Mace and Micaela Schempf to NCAA Zone C Championship berths.
Named the 2017-18 MAC Diving Coach of the Year, Smith saw record-setting success for the Eagle divers. For the first time in five seasons, the Eagles women’s divers had a representative at the NCAA Championships in Alli Shereda. Shereda’s 35th place finish in Columbus was the best for Eastern divers since Kelly Hendrick’s 2013 third place finish. In addition to this success, for the first time in his career, Smith had a Mid-American Conference freshman diver of the year in Micaela Schempf.
In 2006, Smith’s divers played a vital role in the EMU women’s first-ever MAC Championship. The Eagles placed five of the top seven divers on the one-meter board and claimed four of the top six places from the three-meter. On the men’s side, they placed three divers in the top five on the three-meter board and three of the top seven spots on the one-meter. Smith was named MAC Coach of the Year following the meet.
While also in charge of the men’s diving program, Smith qualified seven male divers to the NCAA Championships, had two NCAA All-Americans, was the 10-time MAC men’s Diving Coach of the Year, won nine MAC Championship individual titles, had two MAC Divers of the Year, and set two MAC records.
Prior to Eastern Michigan, Smith was the coach at Oakland University during the 1999-2000 season where he coached the Mid-Continent Conference Diver of the Year and qualified three divers for the Division I Zone meet.
Smith is also the head diving coach for Legacy Diving. In the 10-year history of Legacy Diving, Smith has had 65 junior national qualifiers, 40 junior national finalists, 22 national champions, seven silver medalists and five bronze medalists. He has had a Junior World Finalist and coached his team to three Junior Olympic Regional titles, as well as a third place finish at the 2007 East National Championships. Additionally, Smith has coached six Canadian Junior Olympic National finalists. At the senior national level, Smith has had 28 Senior National qualifiers and 15 finalists, along with coaching the 2006 US Open one-meter men’s champion.
Legacy Diving won the US Open team title in 2006, as well as taking third place for the men’s team and fifth place overall at the 2005 Senior National Championships. In 2009, Smith had a diver place fifth on three-meter, and 10th on platform at the Spring Nationals. At the 2009 Summer Senior Nationals, he had the women’s fifth place finisher on one meter, and third place finisher on three-meter. Another diver placed ninth on platform. Smith also had a diver final at the FINA Grand Prix. In 2009, Smith’s divers took fifth place for the women, and seventh place overall at the Summer Senior Nationals.
In 2010, Smith was awarded the Bruce Harlan Award by the Michigan Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (MISCA) for continued leadership, contributions, and dedicated service to Michigan High School Diving.
Smith lives in Ypsilanti with his wife, Kara, and daughters, Allie and Karlie.
| The Buck Smith File | ||
| Name: | Loren "Buck" Smith | |
| High School: | ||
| College: | Eastern Michigan University - 2003 | |
| Family: | Wife - Kara; Children - Allie and Karlie | |
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