About Legacy Eastern
Legacy Diving’s Eastern Michigan location is where it all began. Founded here in 1999 by then-Eastern Michigan University Head Diving Coach Buck Smith, the site offers a world-class training facility that matches its rich history of success.
The Eastern Michigan Hub boasts a resume that is on par with the best programs in the nation. Some of our accolades include…
107High School
|
20Junior National
|
151Junior National
|
34High School |
28Senior National |
10Team Regional |
Eastern Michigan Hub Teams
Head Coach & Program Director: Kara Smith
Coach Smith brings with her over 30 years of coaching experience. As a former diver at the University of Pittsburgh, she was an NCAA Division I All American. Coach Kara was the Head Diving Coach for the University at Buffalo Men’s and Women’s teams from 1999 through 2004 and was named the MAC Conference Coach of the Year in 2002. She was the founder and head coach of Wings Diving from 1998 through 2004. While coaching Wings and UB, she had 16 JO National qualifiers, 4 JO National finalists, 1 National Champion, and 3 MAC Conference finalists. Coach Kara has been coaching the Saline Varsity High School and Middle School Boys and Girls diving program since 2016 where she was awarded MISCA Coach of the Year for three seasons. Kara has her B.S. in Health and Physical Education and her Master’s degree in teaching. Kara is currently the Aquatics/Fitness Director for Travis Pointe Country Club. Kara and Buck Smith have two beautiful daughters, Allie and Karlie Smith.
Contact Coach Kara: Kara.Smith04@comcast.net
Founder: Buck Smith
In the 25-year history of Legacy Diving, Smith has had hundreds junior national qualifiers, 151 junior national finalists, 20 national champions, seven silver medalists and five bronze medalists. He has had a Junior World Finalist and coached his team to three Junior Olympic Regional titles, as well as a third place finish at the 2007 East National Championships. Additionally, Smith has coached six Canadian Junior Olympic National finalists. At the senior national level, Smith has had 2 Senior National Champions, 28 finalists, along with coaching the 2006 US Open one-meter men’s champion. He has coached 4 US Olympic Trials qualifiers and mentored a diver to the finals at the FINA Grand Prix.
Smith is currently the Head Diving Coach at Penn State University. He is a 24x Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year during his 25-year tenure at Eastern Michigan. He served as the Head Coach for Team USA at the FINA Grand Prix in Rockstock, Germany in 2011.
Legacy Diving won the US Open team title in 2006.
Contact Coach Buck: New email coming soon
STARS ELITE
The Stars Elite team is for advanced divers who have been evaluated by our coaching staff and have mastered the basic skills, dives, and work ethic necessary to progress on to this team.
Training: Up to 7.5 hours/week (2.5 hours 3 days)
Cost: 2 days per week = $500/7-week session
3 days per week = $630/7-week session
RISING STARS & FUTURE CHAMPIONS
The Rising Stars team is for individuals who have been evaluated by our coaching staff and have achieved basic skills, dives, and work ethic.
The Future Champions team is for individuals with little or no experience in the sport of diving. The focus is on learning basic fundamentals to ensure safety and progression toward mastering the skills needed to become a champion.
Training: Up to 3 hours/week (1.5 hours 2 days)
Cost: 1 day per week = $230/7-week session
2 days per week = $400/7-week session
HIGH SCHOOL
Our High School team is for divers in grades 9-12 who want to focus on 1m dives for high school competition. The main focus is developing and/or improving the diver’s full 11-dive high school list for current and future seasons.
Training: Up to 6 hours/week (2 hours 3 days)
Cost: 1 day per week = $275/7-week session
2 days per week = $450/7-week session
3 days per week = $60/7-week session
DROP-IN RATES
Current Legacy divers and visiting divers may add an additional session at the rates below. Visiting divers must confirm with coaching staff before a session and have all appropriate and current AAU and/or USA Diving memberships.
Current Legacy Divers: Future Champs & Rising Stars = $35/session
High School = $45/session
Visiting Divers: All levels = $45/session
Practice Schedule
| Group | 7-week Session | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
| Stars Elite | $500/$630 | 6:30-9pm | 6:30-9pm | 1:30-4pm | ||||
| Rising Stars | $230/$400 | 5:30-7pm | 5:30-7pm | 12-1:30pm | ||||
| Future Champs | $230/$400 | 5:30-7pm | 5:30-7pm | 12-1:30pm | ||||
| High School | $275/$450/$600 | 6:30-8:30pm | 6:30-8:30pm | 1:30-3:30pm |
Legacy Competition & Camp Schedule
EVENT
DATES
LOCATION
ADDITIONAL INFO
Last Chance Qualifier
– US Olympic Trials
April 23-25, 2024
Indianapolis, IN
MDA Kalamazoo Invite
May 17-19, 2024
Kalamazoo, MI
Meet Information
Registration
US Olympic Trials
June 16-23, 2004
Knoxville, TN
Meet Information
TV Schedule
MDA State Meet
July 12-14
TBD
Meet Information
Registration
Facility Location
Jones Natatorium
Facility Information
Pool
- 17’ pool depth
- Two 1m and two 3m springboards on concrete
- 5m, 7.5m, and 10m platforms with rough-tex surfacing
- Bubbler system to accelerate learning
- Over-water spotting rigs on 1m and 3m springboards,
as well as the nation’s first 5m platform water spotting rig - 3 55″ SidelineScout video replay stations (5 cameras)
Dryland
- Four trampolines, two with spotting rigs
- 2 dry boards, one with spotting rig
- Floor/Platform spotting rig
- Somersaulting simulator chair
- 30′ x 6′ carpeted spring floor
- Two 30′ x 6′ carpeted foam floors
- 8 sets of stall bars
- 3 43″ SidelineScout video replay stations
