Dr. Ronn Jenkins begins his 49th season at his alma mater as the men’s and women’s diving coach. Throughout his illustrious career, the legendary diving mentor in the Greater Philadelphia region has tutored numerous All-Americans and conference champions both at the university and through private lessons. His most recent national champion, Nadia Mulder, became the first female diver in school history to bring home a title when she won the 1-meter springboard competition at the 2019 NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships.
In February 2009, West Chester University honored Jenkins by inducting him into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame. In March of 2014, Jenkins was inducted into the Pennsylvania Swimming Hall of Fame. Jenkins was also inducted into the Chester County Sports Hall of Fame in November of 2016.
Considered one of the top diving coaches in the country, Dr. Ronn Jenkins won a PSAC individual diving title while also capturing a Mid-Atlantic Conference diving championship during his college career. He was named the school’s most outstanding athlete in 1964. Jenkins also captured two Junior Olympic national titles during is diving days in the early 1960s.
Jenkins’ reputation in the diving community has grown exponentially over his coaching career to the point where he was appointed the coordinator of diving officials at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, Ga. He served in the same capacity for the World Games one year earlier in Atlanta. Jenkins has also served as chairperson on the U.S. Diving Committee on Diversity from 1991-94 and was a member of the NCAA Swimming & Diving Committee from 1995-99. In 1995, Jenkins was named the national diving coach of the year.
Jenkins worked as a counselor at West Chester University, eventually moving his way up to director of the advising center as well as chairman of the department of educational services, before his retirement years ago.
Jenkins earned his master’s degree from Bucknell University in 1972 and his doctoral degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. He coached the diving team at Bucknell while working towards his master’s diploma.
