Ball State University Athletics
Assistant Diving Coach Nick Gayes Hired Full-Time
June 23, 2015 | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
MUNCIE, Ind. - - The Ball State Athletic Department has expanded the swimming and diving staff with the addition of a full-time position for assistant coach Nick Gayes. Gayes has worked with the Ball State men's and women's diving programs since September 2013 as a part-time assistant coach.
"I am excited to be able to continue as a part of the Ball State athletics family and swimming and diving program," Gayes said. "We have made a lot of really good progress over the past two years and I look forward to building on that momentum and making Ball State a destination for top divers."
A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Gayes has accumulated more than 14 years of experience in coaching, including his current experience as an assistant coach at Ball State and a five-year stint with the Sun Devil Divers program in Tempe, Ariz. Gayes also spent time as an assistant and head coach of Ray's Rippers Diving club based out of Indianapolis.
“I would like to thank our administration for supporting our men's and women's swimming and diving programs by providing a full-time position for a diving coach,” Ball State men's swimming and diving head coach Bob Thomas said. “We are extremely pleased to have Nick continue in this expanded role and look forward to his future success with our divers.”
Throughout the 2014-15 season, Gayes led the Ball State divers to record-setting scores. Under Gayes leadership, Madie Zirzow and Brittany Penn became the first pair of Cardinals to qualify for NCAA Diving Zones since the 2011-2012 season, while Zirzow posted the highest Ball State finish at Zones since 2010 with her 26th place finish on the 1m. Zirzow, Penn and Quinn Bixler all posted scores which placed them in the Ball State All-Time Top 10 record book over the course of the 2014-15 season.
“We are very excited to hire Nick here full-time,” Ball State women's swimming and diving head coach Kristy Castillo said. “He is an eager and knowledgeable diving coach with a lot of passion for the student-athletes and the Ball State swimming and diving program.”
In his first season at Ball State, Gayes led senior Jake Brehmer to one of the best campaigns in school history. Brehmer put his name in the Cardinals' record book ranking second on the 3m and third on the 1m. He became the first Ball State male diver to qualify for the NCAA Zone Diving Championships since 2007 and the first to finish in the Top 8 at the MAC Championships in the same span. Brehmer was named team MVP and Ball State's Comeback Student-Athlete of the Year.
Gayes earned his bachelor's degree in journalism at Ball State in 2003 and is in the process of completing his master's degree in athletic coaching education also through Ball State.
"I want to thank the staff and administration for their support of me and the program," Gayes added. "It is a great family environment here and that shows in the way everyone works together and supports one another."
The Ball State swimming and diving teams will kick off its seasons on October 10 for women and October 31 for men with the Red and White Intrasquad meets.
