Everything Orange
Welcome to Everything Orange! A Tennessee Athletics Podcast where you can find interviews with athletes and coaches across all of Tennessee's athletic programs.
Everything Orange
Jane Figueiredo
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This week on Everything Orange, Sarah Detwiler sits down with Tennessee Head Diving Coach Jane Figueiredo as she reflects on her first year leading the Vols diving program. Jane shares what it was like stepping onto Rocky Top after coaching at the highest levels internationally and collegiately, including guiding athletes to Olympic medals and world championships.
She looks back on year one — featuring four NCAA top-8 finishes and three SEC top-3 podiums — and talks about what stood out to her about the team, the culture, and the potential at Tennessee. Jane also discusses adding Assistant Coach Mike Wright to the staff and how they’ve worked together to build consistency, confidence, and a winning mindset among the divers.
From her journey coaching elite athletes like Tom Daley to what drew her to diving and ultimately to coaching, Jane gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the passion, precision, and philosophy that define her approach. She closes by sharing what excites her most about the future of Tennessee diving and the legacy she hopes to build with her athletes.
Tennessee is allowing me to be the person and the coach that I want to be. I don't approach this job like it's the end of my career. I almost approach it like I'm just beginning. When you have that sort of mindset, you can only really give your very best and you're all, and I'm still learning.
SPEAKER_00And our new Tennessee diving head coach also wrapped up her first year on Rocky Top as well. We saw multiple SEC medals won and multiple NCAA top eight podium finishes as well. She has an exceptional career at the collegiate and international level with international championships, world championships, European championships, and Olympic medals. And I know that what's happening over at the pool for her and her program is only just the beginning. So please welcome the one and only the legendary Dave Figareto. Well, we have one of the best coaches in the history of diving on the podcast with us today. Thank you so much for coming here, Tennessee head diving coach Jane Figuero.
SPEAKER_01Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_00My research was so much fun learning about your history, which I kind of already got a taste of when Dave Perrington came on last season. But before we get into all of that, we just wrapped up year one with you here in Knoxville, Tennessee on Rocky Top. It concluded with four NCAA top eight podium finishes, three SEC top three podium finishes. If you could sum it all up, how would you describe this first season here?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, amazing, right? We um I the way that I sort of do my work, um, I put a lot of expectation and pressure on myself to deliver. And I thought um it was absolutely brilliant. I mean, we coming so late in the year at the end of April, um, you know, we were able to land a couple of recruits, which probably is unheard of, big ones, Tishan Ben, Ashmiel, Thomas Cyprick, and Fraser Taverner. And then we're already on board with Bennett Green, who had a phenomenal year. So I think we more than um it's never enough, let's say that, right? So you never think you you're doing enough, but I think we did a pretty darn good job.
SPEAKER_00I would say so. Yeah. Looking back, year one was pretty good. Yeah. You have coached at the highest levels internationally and collegiately. What still excites you every single day about stepping on the pool deck?
SPEAKER_01Well, you know, we make a difference every day in kids' lives. So that's number one priority is remembering that we are here, we have a purpose as well as performance. Um, I've always taken changing kids' lives and hopefully making it better as a number one priority. So um I enjoy that so much. The performance comes from a lot of hard work that they put in every day and the coaching staff put in. And then we we really go to the very end giving our very best, and then hopefully we end up with a good a good product and great things happen. And um, I think we I think for the first year we really did that.
SPEAKER_00Diving is such a niche sport for you growing up. What made you fall in love with it? And then also realize a love for coaching that you had and pursuing a career in that as well.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I I mean I've I've always loved coaching, I've always loved teaching. If I wasn't a coach, I probably would have been a teacher. Um, and it is niche. It's a sport where you really get to work together in a relationship. Um, and I've always, you know, guarded regarded my relationships with my athletes as something very, very special. And I think from that you get incredible performances. I don't know if they sort of go together, but I I believe they do. I had those kind of relationships in Great Britain um with Tom Daly and Matty Lee and Noah Williams, Scarlett. Um, so all the kids, I had uh just incredible relationships with them. And they they work for you, right? Um and I work for them. So I think if you've got a common goal, a common purpose, I think something really great can transpire from that.
SPEAKER_00Lastly, for just a little intro into who you are before we get into the weeds here. Uh, for people that don't know you outside of your accolades, how would you describe who Jane is, the person, and also Jane the coach?
SPEAKER_01Well, I think I'm very similar, Jane the person and Jane the coach. Um, I think personality plays uh a really key role here. I think I grew up in a very, very positive environment in Zimbabwe as a little girl in Africa, running around with no shoes on, sun was shining. Um, and and I think that positivity, my family instilled in me. And so it's just from those days, um, being able to be authentic and and be as open as I can. Sometimes people might find me a little too open because I say what's on my mind. I I um but but I think when you're trying to achieve such high things, I think you've got to be authentic and you've got to be close to your athletes. As a coach, um, I wake up every day and I I try to be the best. Um and I think you know your life is very short. Um, and especially when you're in a job like mine, when you gotta give so much and so much passion. I think you've got to give absolutely everything you got. And so I love getting up and and giving my very best.
SPEAKER_00Which is perfect as to you know, landing here at Tennessee, which is the mantra of giving my all for Tennessee. I'm like it. It really came around beautifully full circle for you. So let's talk about that a little bit. You've built a resume that includes Olympic coaching experience, world championships, European championships, national championships, and developing some of the best divers in the world. When you hear all that and you reflect on your journey today, what stands out to you the most about your career?
SPEAKER_01Well, you know, accolades are all wonderful, right? But I think you've got to keep pushing, keep learning, keep expanding your knowledge. I never and I never wake up and feel like, well, I know it all. And um, I think that's a danger in coaching. Um I think you've got to pursue it like you just started yesterday. And I see way too many coaches just sort of sitting back, relaxing. Um, and I that's just not my way. So um, and everybody around me will tell you that I'm constantly pushing. Hopefully, I'm doing it in the right way where they feel my passion and um my desire for excellence. And I think if you're not shooting for excellence, then you shouldn't be doing it. Um so I just, you know, um Tennessee is allowing me to be the person and the coach that I want to be. And I'm very, very grateful. And I think um I don't approach this job like it's the end of my career. I almost approach it like I'm just beginning. And I think when you have that sort of mindset, um then you can only really have fun, you can only really give your very best and your all, and and I'm still learning, right? I I don't feel like I know it all. I feel like I've still got to expand my knowledge. Um, and I'm just so so grateful.
SPEAKER_00So around this time last year, 2025, Dave Parrington had announced his retirement, and there are a lot of question marks around who was going to be able to fill in his shoes with the legacy that he had created here at Tennessee.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And we talked about this a little bit before uh we started the podcast, but um, the story of you and Dave's friendship goes back years. Was it was the start of it in Zimbabwe?
SPEAKER_01It was, yeah.
SPEAKER_00So you guys knew each other all the way back then?
SPEAKER_01Yes, I actually was a swimmer. So I swam for Dave's mom. That's right. I was 11 years old. Um and she she was a fantastic woman. We all we were all scared to death. Um, but it was because she there was something about her, so much greatness about her, so much leader uh qualities that she had. Although she was tough, she was very well respected, and and I loved swimming, but swimming wasn't my thing, right? Um swimming, I wanted to be with my head out of the water, not my head in the water. So I went from swimming with Mrs. P, Dave's mom, in her backyard in Zimbabwe, to to changing sports and deciding I'd like to try diving. That looks like much more fun. Um, and so that's where that transpired.
SPEAKER_00And then fast forward to Dave being the head coach at Houston, where he recruited you to be a student athlete of his there. And then we fast forward a little bit more and you followed in his footsteps and being the head coach at Houston in the diving program there. And now, fast forward all the way here to 2026, you're wrapping up year one on Rocky Top following Dave's career that he had here. How influential was Dave in your life? Um, and and almost how poetic is this moment that um everything keeps coming full circle at the same time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, just based on what you've been talking about, it almost like I was stalking him or something. But you know, I I think um my desire to be a Tennessee wasn't something I really um when I left London and moved back to the States, I wasn't thinking about Tennessee. And at that time, Dave had not retired. Um so it was almost like stumbling across something. Um, and and I knew how hard that was for him. And at the time I wasn't thinking, well, you know, Dave's gonna leave, maybe I should become the coach. It was really over a period of time where I knew Rich the assistance from coach and had some conversations with Matt, came to visit Dave. And to be quite honest, one of my dreams always as a young coach was to coach at one of the biggest, greatest universities in college sports. So when I came here, I sort of remember thinking that when I was a young coach. And um yeah, just I was sad for Dave. Um, but at the same time, I almost was in the right place at the right time, and this was almost my destiny. Um, I was gonna go on sabbatical, I was gonna take a couple of years off and rest. That never is true. Um, and then coming to visit Dave, it almost was like, well, here's this opportunity in front of me. Maybe this is the one, maybe in two years when I come out of taking a break, maybe this won't be available.
SPEAKER_02Right.
SPEAKER_01So I've always been somebody who um if I see an opportunity, I usually am a risk taker and I I just always sort of jump at it and think, well, I can make this work. This can be a great program for me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. You you kind of answered my next question because I was so curious with you coming off of the Toronto 24 Paris Olympics, what was it that made you think, okay, now I want to go back to college with my career that I've had, you know, for the past couple of decades at the Olympics stage? I want to go to the college stage now. Um, but you did kind of touch on it a little bit, but uh ultimately when you were here visiting and you know the opportunity presented itself, you you kind of said it, but like Knoxville just felt like home for you in the right place to be at the right time.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think, you know, at the time, obviously, when I left London, um I had achieved probably more than I thought I was. I we won three medals at the Paris Olympics. Um that was unheard of for a coach, especially in diving circles, other than China, right? They win gold medals like it's nothing. But um I think I really I was really tired, you know, leaving London. Tom had retired, Matty had retired. Um and I I just felt like I needed more than just work. Um and trust me, 11 years was phenomenal. I loved every minute of it. There were challenges which helped me grow as a coach and as a person. And um coming to Knoxville was not something that I had on my radar at all. Um, but it almost seemed like, you know, I was gonna come back to the States. Um, I had no intention of coaching in college. In fact, Houston coach reached out to me at NC and said, I can't believe you didn't contact me. And I was like, that I never go backwards. I'm always moving forwards. So that would have, and I'm a cougar lifelong. Yes, that almost would have seen, seemed to me as to be going back. Yes, and I never want to go back, I always want to move forwards. So yeah, Tennessee was, I mean, look, I know the history of Tennessee, and the pool is amazing, um, the staff were amazing. Um, and Dave showed me around, and I was just like, whoa. Okay. So it it was almost like something new, but but also something extremely exciting.
SPEAKER_00Yes. You made the decision to have Mike Wright join your coaching staff this year. He was a former volunteer here and had a tremendous career, one of the best in program history, and then was the South Carolina diving head coach. What was it about him and his skill set that made you really believe in him and wanting him to come join you here?
SPEAKER_01Well, obviously, I've known Mike over the past few years because he had a British diver. Um, and he would come to London and compete at the Nationals. So I already knew Mike on a very surface level. Um, I knew that he loved Tennessee. I knew that. Um, and I think South Carolina was almost like a stepping stone onto what would be next in his career. I think it was hard there for him. Um he didn't get a lot of scholarships. And I think his passion all along probably was at some point coming back and being a Tennessee head coach. Um and unfortunately, I sort of stood in his way. And and seeing Mike and how much love he had for Tennessee, it almost made sense to kids loved him, and I could mentor him, and he could learn things that he probably would never learn. Um, so it almost seemed like a perfect package.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01And and Matt Kreditch, the swim coach, was you know, his ability to show how much he's investing in diving by hiring Mike and myself. Um, I think really stands out or should stand out in the swimming world that Tennessee is serious about sported diving, which most swimming programs aren't necessarily feeling that same way.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I feel like um across the country it could be looked at swimming, oh, and also diving. Yeah. But I remember when the announcement came out with your new head coaching position, and my first thought was first of all, this is incredible. And second, Mike. Like, what is up with him? What is his status? And then the announcement came following that he was gonna join you. And I was like, wow, this couldn't have worked out truly any better. He obviously bleeds orange, so it was just like, like you said, a perfect match, and like everybody was going to get something positive out of this.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and I I think that's what the diving program andor the swimming and diving program really needed, this this boost and belief in a program that could contribute in a big way. And and I think if I hadn't felt like that was gonna be Matt's intention, um, I don't think I would have come. Because what would have been the point? You know, I'm I'm not one of those coaches that's just gonna sit by and take scraps or breadcrumbs. So I think for Matt and I, it was an amazing opportunity to collaborate as some of the top coaches in our sport, and then also to bring along somebody like Mike, who I don't know how many years that is from now. Hopefully he's patient. Um but you know, that was our initial conversations. Is Mike gonna be patient? Is because he's head coach quality and caliber. Um, and and so my worry always was, you know, what would make him sit around and wait? Um, and you know, we'll see. I mean, we we can't answer that question today, but certainly, you know, my plan is not to be here for 20 years. Um, and I hope Mike will be patient and and wait for that opportunity, because clearly he'll be he'll be more than ready when it comes around.
SPEAKER_00Your path to Tennessee includes participating as an athlete and coach in eight of the last 11 Olympic games, which is remarkable, and developing world-class divers like the legendary Tom Daly, which you've already mentioned, and sitting here like I'm giddy, just even like talking about that growing up, watching the Olympics. And so just looking back on all the experiences that you've had, is there one that really stands out to you the most as maybe a maybe not a turning point, but one that was like a launching pad to what was going to come?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I love that question. Uh, because one particular thing comes to my mind when I was first recruited out to London. You know, people sort of warn me about the status of a Tom Daly. And do you think you can handle that red carpet and the, you know, all the noise around such a legend in his country? He he's the guy. Um, and I don't think about those things, right? I just go for it. And I think when I really stopped to think about it was in Rio Olympics in 2016, I think that was a real turning point for Tom and I. Um we had talked too much about winning a gold medal. And I think what I've learned in that process is sometimes when you talk too much and then you don't deliver, that can be a devastating period of time. And so that's basically what happened. Um and I, we got caught up in the media circuits and talked about, yeah, we're gonna win the gold medal. And um we we just did not prepare in the way that we should have. And so when we, I I mean, I wouldn't call it a failure because he still won a medal, um, but when we weren't able to realize our dreams, um, it was a devastating time for him and I. And I think we probably at that time thought that that would be the end of our relationship and let's move on. Um, because clearly we didn't achieve. But I think both Tom and I realized that, well, there were a lot of naysayers, right? And that was the first time in my career where a lot of they call them uh uh backroom quarterbacks, you know, the guys that sit on the outside criticizing like they know what's happening on the inside. And you know, why did you fail? And and what happened? What did you do? Did you make him train too much? So these are all things that a lot of coaches might have run away from. But my nature and Tom's nature was we were going to prove people wrong. And I think that for me was a humongous turning point in my career, coaching somebody like Tom. And we just came back from the Olympics. I mean, we were devastated. And I thought, no, I think it's time for me to leave and go back to the States. And him and I sort of had our come to Jesus conversation. And we were both willing to admit there had been several mistakes. And I think once you get that out on the table and you start owning it, what were the mistakes? And how can we be better next time? Yes. You can't just walk away. You can't quit. Because now you've got a job to do. So what we did was I told him, I don't want to hear another word about winning a gold medal. If we're going to win a gold medal, we're going to say it between the two of us, and we're not going to say another word about it to anybody. So that's how our journey started to winning the gold medal was learning all of those from your mistakes. And I think that moment where we both decided, okay, we're going to stay and we're going to kill it. And that's what we did. And we ended up winning the gold medal in 21 in Tokyo, in our own little world, because right, COVID, we had masks on. There was nobody in the stands. Because it's just you. You and him, you and Matty, three of us, and then our strength coach and my physio couldn't have got through without them. So I would say that for me was really the most traumatic turning point in my career. That you don't quit when you're down.
SPEAKER_00Yes.
SPEAKER_01That's it.
SPEAKER_00I love that lesson, and it echoes so much of the same sentiment that I feel like I've heard throughout my life from my own parents of like when things are great, you don't take that opportunity to reflect and grow and figure out how to get better. You're just living in that moment. It's the hard times when you grow the most, which I love that you're echoing that. Um what I what I want to ask about too is you know, looking at watching back that video of Bennett having the perfect amongst perfect dives in order to secure that SEC gold medal this past year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And the way that you and the team celebrated him, I can only imagine was the same level, if not more emotion that you had on the Olympic stage when Tom won gold. For you, how rewarding is it when you've put in so much time and energy and effort into these athletes and you want it so bad for them? Yeah. And then they go out and they're able to do it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. You know, when you're celebrating like that, you're celebrating more than just the performance. You're celebrating all your hard work, you're celebrating the decisions that you made to come to Tennessee. You're celebrating all of the things you've sacrificed. Um, and each time you have a success story, you're celebrating all of those things. Um Bennett, you know, he's such an amazing athlete, amazing human being. And I think bringing in great divers um in April really pushed Bennett to elevate to another level. Um, so I think just making those kind of decisions to bring other great divers into this program helped him elevate because he's a competitive guy. He doesn't want to lose. And he's been crushing it all year. Yeah. So he doesn't want to even lose to other people. He doesn't want to lose to those guys.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, so I think seeing Bennett in that moment, and I to be quite honest, the way my mind works is I see success, but I also think to myself, we got to get to what's next for Bennett. Um, and what's next for him is being on a world stage as opposed to just in the United States. Um, and he has some very, really, really good American boys that are gonna push him. And I we're not at that level yet. So we've got a lot to go this summer. I hope to and you going back to your original question is you know, yeah, we've had a great year, but we're already thinking about what we need to do for next year. So we can't sit and relax and go, wow, let's take a moment. I should. Um you know, maybe we'll have a barbecue together and we'll celebrate and talk about it. But I think we're already starting to think about what's next. He's traveling on Monday with me to the Canada to go and compete for the USA. So these are the kind of things that um that's what's next for a guy like him.
SPEAKER_00It's remarkable because even in talking with our SID Bryant about our scheduling and stuff for today, he was like, oh, well, you know, we've got practice in the afternoon, so you know, we need to do it in this window. And I'm like, didn't NCAA just end? Yeah. But that that is what is going to get these athletes to where they want to go.
SPEAKER_01That's right.
SPEAKER_00And it's so it's important. But I admire that so much that it's like, we can we can celebrate that, you know.
SPEAKER_02It's gone.
SPEAKER_00But it is, it is gone, and we are on to the next one. We are looking and moving forward, which goes kind of into my next question of, you know, you're through year one, we're looking forward to year two. What are you most excited about now that you know we got all the first kind of out of the way with year one? We're settled in now, and we're gonna go attack and elevate this program to a whole new level next year in year two.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you know, that's what's so exciting. Um, is okay, we've we've already done that, but look what we got ahead. We're bringing in four brand new recruits: a girl from Australia, a girl from Midland, Texas, a girl from Canada, and then a great boy out of Virginia. And so just when you think we're gonna be relaxing, we're not relaxing, right? We're and we do want to celebrate and and rest is a very important thing. Um, so we do do that, right? We probably have some weekends that they won't be training. Um in the summer, we're gonna be hitting it really hard. So I think we are excited about this group of kids that are coming. I think they're petrified about what's coming. Um, but you know, you want them to be excited, um, but also a little bit nervous about this is a whole nother level. So we're asking them, they need to come in ready for another level. They're not juniors anymore. So um I think if I can just get them sort of a little bit nervous about what's to come, maybe they'll prepare this summer so that they don't come and they're not overwhelmed because they will be.
SPEAKER_00Well, I was gonna ask for divers who you know are seeing what Tennessee is doing now and are hopeful and maybe, you know, wanting an opportunity to come and dive here. What would you say about the experience that divers are going to get if they come here and be a volunteer?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, well, I mean, I'm gonna give them my very best every single day, as Mike will. And we're gonna turn every stone, every box. We're gonna be thinking outside the box. We're not gonna stay in a rut and same routine. And that's something that I've done really well over the course of my career. Because if it's boring for me, it must be boring for them. So we try to mix it up. We try to play pickleball, we do beach volleyball, we play four square, uh paddle ball. So we we really try to change the environment so that they're being challenged in a different way and they don't get burnt out. So we're gonna offer that, right? And all of the recruits that have already signed with us already know we offer all that because they came on trips.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_01So they know what Jane's going to and Mike are gonna deliver. Um and I I just want them to come excited. Um, and I want them to come ready to contribute to the whole program, swimming and diving. Because culturally, it's very important to build um a really good culture, and that starts at the top with us coaches. Um, and then you've got to recruit the right kind of kids. Kids that you feel like are gonna, yeah, do their all in Tennessee.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. How much fun are you having right now?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's just too much. I'm loving it. I mean, you know, let me tell you, Knoxville, I live in Sequoia Hills, which is first of all down the street. Right. Takes me two minutes to get to work. I love that. I'm right by the river. I see the morning sun come up every day from my kitchen window. It's beautiful. My neighbors make me soup, bread, meals. They pick up my Amazon Prime packages if they they see it sitting outside my front door. My neighbors come along and admire my garden that's looked like garbage because they've had rental people in it. And they're like, wow, Jane, look at you. So this appreciation that the city brings is far beyond anything that I've ever experienced. And so, how can you not like just love living here? And people in Tennessee are a very special, friendly, just warm, loving people. And so I'm loving that, absolutely loving it.
SPEAKER_00Well, we're so happy to have you here.
SPEAKER_01Thank you.
SPEAKER_00We cannot wait to see what year two looks like. If it's any, you know, if year one is any, you know, you know, indication of what we're gonna get in year two, my goodness. It's gonna be, you guys are gonna be doing some incredible things over here.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, we look forward to it. We we're gonna do everything we can to smash it every day and also try to enjoy it and balance our lives.
SPEAKER_00Well, thank you so much for the time. Thanks so much. I don't want to take up too much because I know you're also trying to catch your breath before getting back on the road in the air, on the plane, everything. But thank you so much. This was wonderful.
SPEAKER_01Thank you. I really love being here. Thanks so much.