Katie Polk - Head Diving Coach - Staff Directory - University of Connecticut Athletics

Staff Directory

Katie Polk

Title:
Head Diving Coach
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In her second season, Polk's success did not stop. She once again helped lead the Huskies to a second place finish at the BIG EAST Championships and has four divers competing nationally at NCAA Zones. During the 2025-26 BIG EAST Championships, Polk coached Kate Cooper to a 3rd place finish in the 3-meter competition and coached Olivia Denery to her second straight 1st place finish in the 1-meter Dive.

Katie Polk's impact was immediately felt in her first season as UConn Head Diving Coach. Polk helped lead the Huskies to a 2nd place finish in the BIG EAST Championships as well as leading five divers to compete at the national stage at NCAA Zones. At BIG EAST Championships Polk and the Huskies dominated as they swept teh 1-meter competition as Darah Ostrom placed third, Kate Cooper 2nd and Olivia Denery was named BIG EAST Champion after taking home 1st place. The success did not stop there as Kate Cooper was named BIG EAST Champion in the 3-meter dive. Polk's efforts did not go unnoticed as she was named BIG EAST Diving Coach of the Year alongside her diver Kate Cooper who was named BIG EAST Diver of the year.

Coach Katie shares our belief that our Diving program will continue to be tops in the Big East and continually send athletes to the NCAA level," commented Maiello. "You will find that coach Katie is well prepared, organized, caring, and motivated. She will push our student athletes to grow in and out of the pool. I fully expect our diving program to advance under her leadership."

Polk joined the Huskies after two years as Head Diving Coach at Bryant University. Polk led three individual athletes to America East Conference Championship titles in the 1m and 3m springboard, led two athletes to America East Diver of the Meet recognitions, and had three individual athletes qualify for NCAA Zones.

Prior to her stop at Bryant, Polk was a four year member of the Division I UMass Amherst Swimming and Diving team where she was named captain for two consecutive seasons, an NCAA Zone qualifier for four seasons, and Atlantic 10 3m champion and Diver of the Meet in the 2019.