Diving coach receives honorary doctorate

Ady Hinchliffe was Head Coach for the City of Leeds Diving Club, home to six of the current British podium divers, for over 20 years. His leadership of the team resulted in Leeds divers Jack Laughter and Chris Mears notoriously taking gold for Team GB in 2016, and Jack winning another silver.

Throughout his coaching career he has won medals at all levels; from domestic competitions to World Series, European and World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Grand Prix events, and he’s been a driving force behind British divers at the last five Olympic Games. He was awarded Performance Coach of the Year in 2014 at the Leeds Sports Awards and Diving Coach of the Year at the British Swimming Awards in 2015 and 2016.

A former student at the University, Ady graduated in 1994 with a BA (Hons) degree in Human Movement Studies. His own diving career started in the 80s, when he competed regionally and nationally, before retiring to pursue a coaching career.

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport Science at 10am on Friday 28 July, for his world-class services to sport coaching.

Speaking about the award, Ady said: “To receive the award today is very flattering; the university has always been a bit supporter as I built a diving programme in the city.  It’s great to back on campus and to have that connection as I have a lot of friends within the University who have supported and helped me in many different ways.

“My degree gave me a number of skills; as well as a lot of knowledge it also gave me a lot of methods and techniques to deal with my sport and difficult situations.  My message to the graduating students is not to put a limit on anything, they can achieve so much if they give everything in their chosen field.”

Leeds Beckett University Chancellor, Sir Bob Murray CBE, said: “Ady has managed to accomplish what no diving coach in the world has ever done. To start a club from the bottom and raise it to international in the diving world - from National Skills medallists to Olympic champions - is truly remarkable.

“He has dedicated himself to the club and divers, and helped so many to achieve national and international success with his world-class coaching skills.  Leeds diving under Ady’s stewardship has never been stronger, and as alumnus of the University, we couldn’t be prouder of him as we award him this Honorary Doctorate.”

Ady has recently relocated to Australia with his family to embark on a new adventure, as a national coach within the Australian team, working with athletes like Maddison Keeney (Olympic Bronze Medallist – Rio 2016).

The full list of the nine honorary degrees to be awarded by Leeds Beckett University can be found here.