Entering seventh year as diving coach in 2024-25
Alma Mater: Grinnell College '04, Minnesota State University
Education: B.A. Economics Grinnell '04, Masters in Sports Management
- 3-time MET Women's Diving Coach of the Year (2020, 2022, 2023)
- MET Men;s Diving Coach of the Year (2023)
- Coached three NCAA Regional Qualifiers
Eric Blevins joined The College of New Jersey swimming & diving program in September of 2018 as diving coach.
Blevins coached the Lions' divers to a strong season in 2019-20 as Gabi Valladares and Jay Soukup both ended the season as NCAA regional qualifiers. At the MET Championships, Blevins was honored as the Women's Diving Coach of the Year.
Before arriving at TCNJ, Blevins was the diving coach for the last seven years at Rider University. During his tenure there he was part of a program that achieved tremendous success. Blevins coached nine NCAA Zone A qualifiers, and produced the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Diver of the Year in 2012 and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Diver of the Year in 2013, 2014, and 2018. The Rider men's swimming & diving team won the MAAC Championship every season Blevins has coached there. He was additionally responsible for producing five individual MAAC Champions as well as three ECAC Champions.
Prior to landing at Rider, Blevins was the diving coach at University of Evansville. During his time there he was named 2011 Missouri Valley Diving Coach of the Year, and he produced the 2011 Missouri Valley Co-Diver of the Year. Additionally, Blevins coached three NCAA Zone C qualifiers. Blevins has coached diving collegiately for the last 13 years, as he has also spent time coaching at Minnesota State University, St. Lawrence University, and University of the South.
Blevins had an excellent career himself. He was a standout at Grinnell College, as he was an eight time conference champion as well as a two time All-American. In 2014 Blevins was inducted to the Grinnell Athletics Hall of Fame. During the summer of 2019, Blevins won gold medals in the 35-39 year old age brackets in both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard events at the FINA World Masters Championships.
