Miami University Women's Swimming

Davis has been named the new head coach of the women's swimming and diving team. He has spent the past six seasons as an assistant for the RedHawks under retiring head coach Dave Jennings. Back to Women's Swimming   Printer-friendly format   Email this article Mark Davis Position: Head Coach "We're real excited to have Mark Davis take the position to become our next head coach and build on the success that he has helped be a part of with Dave Jennings and his staff" said Sayler. "We look for Mark to continue the trend of winning MAC Championships, graduating our student-athletes and letting them achieve records in the classroom, which they've been doing the last few years, as well." The RedHawks have won two MAC Championships during Davis' six-year tenure as an assistant coach, in 2009 and 2013. He assisted in coaching 16 individual MAC Champions and three relay championship teams. In four of his six seasons, the Red and White have qualified swimmers for the NCAA Championships, led by Kelsey Vehr becoming the first All-American in school history. During his time at Miami, seven swimmers have qualified for the USA Swimming Olympic Team Trials, while 53 school records have been broken. Miami has also seen a lot of academic success with a total of 22 athletes receiving 32 Academic All-MAC awards the past six seasons. The team has increased its overall GPA from 3.22 to 3.53 since Davis has arrived. "I would like to thank Athletic Director David Sayler and Associate Athletic Director Jennie Gilbert for allowing me the opportunity to continue the great tradition of Miami Women's Swimming and Diving," said Davis. "I am excited to be a part of this great Athletic Department, family and team. When I came here 6 years ago, I was like our freshmen, I knew I really liked Miami, but after a short time here I fell in love with Miami. As everyone says Miami is about the people. There is no other place I wanted to be." Prior to his time with Miami, Davis was the head coach of Centerville High School from 1996-2007. During his tenure, Davis guided the Elks to 12 conference championships and 12 sectional titles. On the women's side, Davis' squads won two Southwest District championships and finished as the district runner-up five times, each coming in his last seven seasons. In his finest season with the Elks, Davis led his women's squad to the 2004 Ohio Division I State Championship. Centerville swimmers broke all but two school records under Davis' watch, and he mentored state champions, state record holders and numerous All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. Davis also was a successful club coach, leading the WTRC Sharks from 1992-2007. Helping the program grow from 30 to 200 swimmers, Davis mentored numerous U.S. Open Champions, sectional champions, junior national and senior national finalists and one Olympic Trials semifinalist. He primarily served as the coach of the Sharks' senior group, which is for all high-school aged swimmers. The Sharks were recognized as a Silver Medal Club of Excellence by USA Swimming. A native of St. Marys, Ohio, Davis earned his bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Dayton. He has earned his Level 4 coaching license from the American Swimming Coaches Association (ASCA). Davis knows he is taking over for Miami Hall of Famer in Dave Jennings, but believes he is up for the task. "Dave Jennings has been an outstanding mentor and friend," said Davis. "It is amazing what he has accomplished in the past 31 years. They always say it is tough to replace a legend, but after working with him for the past six years, I look at it as an honor to be able to carry on his work here at Miami." "I am excited to be able to continue to work with some of the best athletes and most hardworking student-athletes. They are an outstanding group of women. We have continued to climb up the ladder, and I am anxious to see how high we can get."

Keily was a graduate assistant for Illinois State, assisting in both swimming and dry land workouts for the Redbirds. Keily was a four-year letterwinner for Penn State. She helped the Nittany Lions win the Big Ten Championship in 2006, scoring in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 1650-yard freestyle. She qualified for the U.S. Nationals all four seasons, and also participated in the Open Water Nationals while at Penn State. "I am so excited about joining the Miami family, and it's an honor to work with such a great athletic department that has strong academic and athletic traditions," said Keily. "I'm looking forward to working with Mark and the team to continue their successes in and out of the pool." Keily earned her bachelor's degree in visual journalism from Penn State in 2010. She received a master's degree in recreation administration from Illinois State in 2012.

Li Diving Coach KongRong Li recently completed his sixth season as Miami University's head diving coach. In 2013, the RedHawk women's swimming and diving team won the Mid-American Conference team title. In 2008-09, Li received his first of three consecutive MAC Diving Coach of the Year awards. Under his guidance, Chris Heaton won his seventh and eighth consecutive MAC championships and fourth straight MAC Diver of the Year award, while freshmen Cameron Horner and Jimmy Beres earned All-MAC first team and second team honors, respectively. At the end of the season, both Heaton and Beres qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships. In 2012, under Li's direction, Miami women's diver Nikki Craft won the MAC ttile. Li has 31 years of collegiate, national and international coaching experience to Miami and before coming to Miami, spent the previous six seasons as the co-head diving coach at U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus. Joining the U.S. Diving Elite Academy in 2001, Li served as the co-head diving coach for six seasons and helped more than 20 divers move on to the collegiate ranks. Since 2004, Li coached numerous athletes who went on to dive at Division I institutions in the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference. Notable athletes that Li mentored included six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Burkley Showe (Ohio State), six-time junior national qualifier Corey Gerlach (Auburn), six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Chelsea Davis (Northwestern) and four-time Ohio state finalist Jackie Apple (Virginia). All told, Li's athletes earned 13 NCAA athletic scholarships in just the past two seasons (2005-06). Since 2002, Li mentored eight high school state champions, including the 2006 men's state champions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Li also has achieved success at the national and junior national levels, guiding the junior team to five straight top-three finishes (2002-06) and helping the national team to three consecutive top-three showings, including a first-place finish in 2006. Additionally, Li served as the head coach of the junior world championship team in 2004. Prior to working at U.S. Diving Elite, Li spent seven years (1995-2001) at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), which is Australia's elite diving program. While at AIS, Li earned a Level 3 accreditation from the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS), which is awarded to coaches with the ability to coach athletes at the international level, and worked with 2004 Olympic gold medalist Chantelle Newbery, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Matthew Helm and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Robert Newbery. Li helped develop the training program that aided Australia in lifting its international standing to No. 2 in the world after the 2004 Olympic Games. Li additionally worked with Diving Australia to conduct a Talent Identification Program and participated in Australia's national camps, which were held annually for the national and developmental squad athletes. KONGRONG LI QUICK FACTS: Hired as Miami University men's and women's head diving coach on July 3, 2007 ... spent the last six seasons as co-head diving coach at the U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus ... brings 27 seasons of national and international coaching experience to Miami ... served as head coach of the United States Diving Team at the 2004 World Junior Championships ... coached internationally in China for 13 years and in Australia for seven years ... has worked with divers that have competed in the last three Olympic Games. Head Diving Coach - Miami University (2007-present) Co-Head Diving Coach - U.S. Elite Diving Academy (2001-2007) Diving Coach - Australian Institute of Sport Elite Diving Program (1995-2001) Diving Coach - Beijing University of Sport (1983-1995) KongRong Li Position: Diving Coach KongRong Li Diving Coach KongRong Li recently completed his sixth season as Miami University's head diving coach. In 2013, the RedHawk women's swimming and diving team won the Mid-American Conference team title. In 2008-09, Li received his first of three consecutive MAC Diving Coach of the Year awards. Under his guidance, Chris Heaton won his seventh and eighth consecutive MAC championships and fourth straight MAC Diver of the Year award, while freshmen Cameron Horner and Jimmy Beres earned All-MAC first team and second team honors, respectively. At the end of the season, both Heaton and Beres qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships. In 2012, under Li's direction, Miami women's diver Nikki Craft won the MAC ttile. Li has 31 years of collegiate, national and international coaching experience to Miami and before coming to Miami, spent the previous six seasons as the co-head diving coach at U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus. Joining the U.S. Diving Elite Academy in 2001, Li served as the co-head diving coach for six seasons and helped more than 20 divers move on to the collegiate ranks. Since 2004, Li coached numerous athletes who went on to dive at Division I institutions in the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference. Notable athletes that Li mentored included six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Burkley Showe (Ohio State), six-time junior national qualifier Corey Gerlach (Auburn), six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Chelsea Davis (Northwestern) and four-time Ohio state finalist Jackie Apple (Virginia). All told, Li's athletes earned 13 NCAA athletic scholarships in just the past two seasons (2005-06). Since 2002, Li mentored eight high school state champions, including the 2006 men's state champions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Li also has achieved success at the national and junior national levels, guiding the junior team to five straight top-three finishes (2002-06) and helping the national team to three consecutive top-three showings, including a first-place finish in 2006. Additionally, Li served as the head coach of the junior world championship team in 2004. Prior to working at U.S. Diving Elite, Li spent seven years (1995-2001) at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), which is Australia's elite diving program. While at AIS, Li earned a Level 3 accreditation from the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS), which is awarded to coaches with the ability to coach athletes at the international level, and worked with 2004 Olympic gold medalist Chantelle Newbery, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Matthew Helm and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Robert Newbery. Li helped develop the training program that aided Australia in lifting its international standing to No. 2 in the world after the 2004 Olympic Games. Li additionally worked with Diving Australia to conduct a Talent Identification Program and participated in Australia's national camps, which were held annually for the national and developmental squad athletes. KONGRONG LI QUICK FACTS: Hired as Miami University men's and women's head diving coach on July 3, 2007 ... spent the last six seasons as co-head diving coach at the U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus ... brings 27 seasons of national and international coaching experience to Miami ... served as head coach of the United States Diving Team at the 2004 World Junior Championships ... coached internationally in China for 13 years and in Australia for seven years ... has worked with divers that have competed in the last three Olympic Games. Head Diving Coach - Miami University (2007-present) Co-Head Diving Coach - U.S. Elite Diving Academy (2001-2007) Diving Coach - Australian Institute of Sport Elite Diving Program (1995-2001) Diving Coach - Beijing University of Sport (1983-1995) KongRong Li Position: Diving Coach KongRong Li Diving Coach KongRong Li recently completed his sixth season as Miami University's head diving coach. In 2013, the RedHawk women's swimming and diving team won the Mid-American Conference team title. In 2008-09, Li received his first of three consecutive MAC Diving Coach of the Year awards. Under his guidance, Chris Heaton won his seventh and eighth consecutive MAC championships and fourth straight MAC Diver of the Year award, while freshmen Cameron Horner and Jimmy Beres earned All-MAC first team and second team honors, respectively. At the end of the season, both Heaton and Beres qualified for the NCAA Zone C Diving Championships. In 2012, under Li's direction, Miami women's diver Nikki Craft won the MAC ttile. Li has 31 years of collegiate, national and international coaching experience to Miami and before coming to Miami, spent the previous six seasons as the co-head diving coach at U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus. Joining the U.S. Diving Elite Academy in 2001, Li served as the co-head diving coach for six seasons and helped more than 20 divers move on to the collegiate ranks. Since 2004, Li coached numerous athletes who went on to dive at Division I institutions in the Big Ten, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference. Notable athletes that Li mentored included six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Burkley Showe (Ohio State), six-time junior national qualifier Corey Gerlach (Auburn), six-time U.S. Junior National Champion Chelsea Davis (Northwestern) and four-time Ohio state finalist Jackie Apple (Virginia). All told, Li's athletes earned 13 NCAA athletic scholarships in just the past two seasons (2005-06). Since 2002, Li mentored eight high school state champions, including the 2006 men's state champions in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Li also has achieved success at the national and junior national levels, guiding the junior team to five straight top-three finishes (2002-06) and helping the national team to three consecutive top-three showings, including a first-place finish in 2006. Additionally, Li served as the head coach of the junior world championship team in 2004. Prior to working at U.S. Diving Elite, Li spent seven years (1995-2001) at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), which is Australia's elite diving program. While at AIS, Li earned a Level 3 accreditation from the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS), which is awarded to coaches with the ability to coach athletes at the international level, and worked with 2004 Olympic gold medalist Chantelle Newbery, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Matthew Helm and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Robert Newbery. Li helped develop the training program that aided Australia in lifting its international standing to No. 2 in the world after the 2004 Olympic Games. Li additionally worked with Diving Australia to conduct a Talent Identification Program and participated in Australia's national camps, which were held annually for the national and developmental squad athletes. KONGRONG LI QUICK FACTS: Hired as Miami University men's and women's head diving coach on July 3, 2007 ... spent the last six seasons as co-head diving coach at the U.S. Elite Diving Academy in Columbus ... brings 27 seasons of national and international coaching experience to Miami ... served as head coach of the United States Diving Team at the 2004 World Junior Championships ... coached internationally in China for 13 years and in Australia for seven years ... has worked with divers that have competed in the last three Olympic Games. Head Diving Coach - Miami University (2007-present) Co-Head Diving Coach - U.S. Elite Diving Academy (2001-2007) Diving Coach - Australian Institute of Sport Elite Diving Program (1995-2001) Diving Coach - Beijing University of Sport (1983-1995) KONGRONG LI COACHING CREDENTIALS: