Nadadores Coach Ron O'Brien Honored With Diving Well Name Change

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A local legend will be honored in Mission Viejo, after the Mission Viejo Nadadores Diving Team announced the renaming of the dive well at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex.

Mission Viejo City Council members approved renaming the "Dr. Ron O'Brien Dive Well" at its March 25 meeting.

O'Brien, a Mission Viejo resident and the first diving coach at the complex, is a legend in the sport of diving. He was an eight-time USA Olympic diving coach, seven-time head coach, beginning in 1968 and continuing through every Olympic event until his last in 1996.

He was a seven-time USA World Championships head coach, four-time USA Pan American Games head coach and seven-time USA World Cup head coach.

O'Brien became the head coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores in 1978. He would go on to lead the Nadadores to win 38 team titles.

The diving legend passed away in his Naples, Florida home at 86 on Nov. 19, 2024.

"To honor Ron and name our dive well after an eight-time Olympic Coach who had such a historical impact on the team and community is just the right thing to do," Nadadores Executive Director and two-time Olympic Silver Medalist Michele Mitchell told Patch. "Ron was the genesis of our program."

The unveiling ceremony will take place during the opening ceremonies of the 2025 USA Diving Junior National Championships, July 26 at 6 p.m. at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex, 27474 Casta Del Sol.