An eight-time USA Olympic Diving Coach, Dr. Ron O’Brien coached divers at every Olympics from 1968 – 1996. He was a seven-time USA World Championship Head Coach, four-time USA Pan American Games Head Coach and seven-time USA World Cup Head Coach O’Brien’s divers won a total of five gold, three silver and four bronze Olympic medals. He is best remembered for the 1988 Olympic Games, when he coached Nadador Greg Louganis to his second double gold medal performance in the 3-meter springboard and 10-meter platform events, making Louganis the only man to accomplish back-to-back double gold medals in Olympic diving history. All total in major competitions, O’Brien divers won 196 gold, 113 silver and 106 bronze medals.

O’Brien began his long career at his alma mater, Ohio State University where he coached from 1963-1978. He arrived in Southern California in 1978, where he became head coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores. The Nadadores quickly became the most elite team in the United States.

In 1980 Nadador Olympians included: Randy Ableman, Dave Burgering, Jennifer Chandler, Greg Louganis (3 and 10M), Kevin Machemer, and Megan Neyer[MN1] (3 and 10M).

In 1982 Nadadores swept the World Championships, winning gold in every event - Megan Neyer on 3M, Wendy Wyland on 10M and Greg Louganis on 3 and 10M. At the 1984 Los Angeles Games all three of his Nadador Olympians (Greg Louganis, Michele Mitchell, and Wendy Wyland) came home with 2 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze, respectively.

His Olympic medalists include Jennifer Chandler (1976), Debbie Keplar Wilson (1976), Greg Louganis (1976, 1984, 1988), Michele Mitchell (1984, 1988), Wendy Wyland (1984), Wendy Williams (1988) Scott Donie (1992) and Mary Ellen Clark (1992, 1996).

In addition to coaching Olympians O’Brien served as the National Technical Director for USA Diving from 1991-2004, wrote books on diving, and gave more coaching clinics than can be counted.

Along with the extraordinary success of his divers, he had numerous divers or coach mentees become Olympic coaches themselves, including Tim O’Brien, Doug Shaffer, Jeff Shaffer, Randy Ableman, Dave Burgering and Matt Scoggin.

Ron passed away on November 19, 2024, at the age of 86. With many retired Nadador divers, staff, and family in attendance, the Nadadores renamed the dive well at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, the “Dr. Ron O’Brien Dive Well” at the opening ceremonies of the USA Diving Junior National Championships in July of 2025.