Chapel Hill, N.C. – The University of North Carolina diving program has employed its most embellished alum Anton Down-Jenkins to function an assistant coach alongside head coach Yadiel Gamboa, this system introduced on Wednesday. An eight-time All-American and Tokyo 2020 Olympic finalist, Down-Jenkins joins the workers after serving as a volunteer assistant for the earlier two seasons.
“We thrilled to have Anton join the program on a full-time basis,” stated head coach
Mark Gangloff. “He’s done an excellent job over the past two seasons in his volunteer role and we expect that to continue moving forward. Anton brings great personality to the pool deck, and when you combine that with his experiences as a competitor, a Tar Heel, and now a coach, we think he’s the perfect fit for our diving program.”
Down-Jenkins has a confirmed monitor document of growing younger expertise to the nationwide degree, having spent the previous 4 years teaching with North Carolina Diving Club. In his function with the membership, Down-Jenkins most not too long ago coached six divers to the 2025 USA Diving Junior National Championships, essentially the most within the membership’s historical past. At the National Championships, his athletes went on to safe 4 Top 12 finishes.
As an athlete, Down-Jenkins loved success on the collegiate, nationwide, and worldwide stage. The Wellington, New Zealand native certified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games representing his dwelling nation, turning into the primary male diver from New Zealand in 4 many years to qualify for the Games. Down-Jenkins completed eighth within the males’s 3-meter occasion, once more making historical past for New Zealand as the primary ever diver from New Zealand to qualify for an Olympic ultimate. Down-Jenkins additionally competed at three World Championships, two Diving World Cup occasions, and the Canadian leg of the 2020 Diving World Series.
“I’ve known Anton for a long time and I’m excited to have him working alongside me with our diving program,” stated diving head coach Yadiel Gamboa. “He’s very gifted at communicating with young athletes and works extremely hard to get the best out of them. He’s taken the same path as our current student-athletes, so he’s an excellent resource for them, both in and out of the pool. I believe Anton’s skill set will continue to be an asset for our program and I’m very happy that he’s joining us full time.”
In faculty, diving underneath Head Diving Coach
Yaidel Gamboa, Down-Jenkins turned UNC’s most profitable male diver ever, ending his collegiate profession as an eight-time All-American, three-time ACC Champion, and was the 2020-21 and 2021-22 ACC Men’s Diver of the Year. Down-Jenkins was additionally named ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
“I’ve worked really hard after my competitive career to make an impact as a coach,” Down-Jenkins stated. “I’m so grateful that I’ll be able to continue that journey alongside Coach Gamboa, and that I get to contribute to the legacy of the diving program that he has created. I love Chapel Hill and the program that Coach Gangloff has developed here, and I look forward to making a positive impact. This is a special place with special people and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
Down-Jenkins graduated from Carolina’s graduate college in 2025 with a grasp’s diploma in Exercise and Sports Science. He additionally graduated from Carolina in 2023 with a level in Media and Journalism.
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