A little history of ACES...
ACES Diving was originally founded in 2006 by Jen White and Kris Kline with the vision to
provide a safe and affordable program while keeping a high quality training for athletes of all ages and abilities. The club grew too well over 150 athletes ranging in abilities from beginner to State and National level divers. After much contemplation, in 2011 ACES merged with the Ohio State Diving Club where Coach Jen became the full time Lead Developmental Coach, and Coach Kris went on to become a doctor.
The Ohio State Dive Club went on to win numerous National Championships and grew to be a powerhouse in diving, with former divers set to represent the USA in the 2020 Olympics which were canceled. When the world took a turn during Covid-19, they set up a gym in Coach Jens backyard and kept the Westerville JayCee pool open to train. The news that OSDC was done and had no current plan to return, resulted in Coach Mandy and Jen restarting ACES. The gym was moved indoors and we worked hard to utilize every facility available to train. Focusing on goals, physical training and friendships has been a lifeline for these athletes, as well as our coaches! We continue to grow and thrive, offering opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities to learn and compete.
The sport of diving offers a unique balance of strength, coordination, agility, flexibility, spatial
awareness and finesse. At ACES, we train these skills not only in the pool but most importantly
in dryland training. With the use of skill progressions on diving boards over mats, trampolines,
tumble-tracks, and spotting systems a diver can learn these movements in a safe and highly
repetitive atmosphere.
ACES understands the difficulty and demands a family requires. Named after Jen's children
Ashley, Colin, Emily, Shane (and later Sarah) we are committed to family first. Our coaches
know it is privilege to work with your children, understanding the sacrifice and investment on
the family, as well as the reward and growth sports and teams provide.
Coach Jen
Owner and Head Developmental Director
Originally from Granville, Coach Jen started diving midway through High School and into college. Upon entering BGSU, I started coaching divers with BGSU Swim Club and 5 area High Schools, but switched to running XC while still coaching dive. With a degree in Exercise Science and Physiology, I started personal training and summer league coaching at NACC then Highlands for 13 years, then Westerville JC for 15 years, earning at least one champ title every year. As a High School diving coach for the past 30 years, I am honored to have represented 77 athletes at the state meet and 6 state champions. The original ACES Diving was started in 2006, and had over 100 divers ranging in levels from newborn (my own) to National finalists. As a business decision, I joined with OSDC as the Lead Developmental Coach in 2012 to learn and grow professionally. I love introducing the sport of diving to newbies! Also the founder of CODA, past president of the Ohio Diving League and GCSL Dive commissioner --the wife of Tracy and mother of 5, ranging from 27 to 15. As a fun fact, Jen also coaches Middle School Cross Country and teaches at Lifewise Academy in Big Walnut.
Mandy Eby
Competitive Team Director and Coach
Assistant National Team Coach, Lead Coach Black Team
I have been actively involved in diving since I was 5 years old, I competed through high school and into college (University of Arizona) where I retired after 17 years due to injury. I immediately transitioned to coaching helping our college team as Team Manager/Assistant Coach and coaching a local high school team in Tucson, AZ. I have continued to coach summer club, high school, and club diving for the past 20+years. I have had the privilege to be the head or assistant to coach to countless All-American High School divers, USA/AAU/YMCA National Champions, and international qualifiers. Prior to ACES Diving, I was the Head Coach at Ohio State Diving Club where we were 2019 USA Diving Junior National Champions. I was also Head Coach/Owner of Queen City Diving and coached with Legacy Diving in Ypsilanti, MI. I have international coaching experience at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, 2019 Junior Pan Ams, 2020 FINA Grand Prix in Rostock, Germany, and 2024 British Junior Elites. In addition to coaching, I have served as a FINA certified judge for USA Diving domestically and internationally from 2013 to present, having most recently judged the 2021 ACC Championship meet. I have been happily married for 16+ years. My husband, Chris, and I have four children - Jake, Brenden, Rylan and Miles. My boys are avid soccer players and my daughter enjoys art - none dive.
Coach Ben
Head Competitive Team Coach
I grew up outside of Philadelphia where I began diving at my summer pool at age 9, before becoming a year round club diver with West Chester Diving. After my diving career ended, I began coaching for West Chester Diving coaching all groups, from learn to dive all the way up to our national team. In 2018, I moved to Greensboro, NC to coach full time, and in 2020 started Triad Diving Academy with Shannon Hoffmann before deciding to move to Columbus in 2023 and join ACES! During my coaching career I have been lucky enough to coach some fantastic athletes who have accomplished amazing things, including USA national champions, a Jr Pan American games medal, a Jr world Championship medalist and countless college divers on scholarship.
Coach Lena
Assistant Team Coach - Head Green and College Prep
Lena is a former OSU diver studying business. Lena began her diving career at the Westerville JayCee Pool with coach Jen and then later with the Ohio State Diving Club. Lena was the 2019 D2 Girls State Champion. She began Coaching in 2021 with ACES and has been a valuable member of our coaching team on all levels. Lena is currently the lead coach for the Green team and assistant to Ben with the National Team.
Coach Clay
Assistant Floating Coach
My name is Clay Chaplin, and I’m from Denver Colorado. I’ve been diving for over 10 years! My diving career started in Colorado with Mile High Dive Club, and since then I’ve been competing in diving competitions nationally and internationally. I’m currently a diver for the United States National team, and finished my second year as an Ohio State diver with a bronze medal Big 10 finish and aTop 5 finish platform NCAA.I love to coach and will be ACES "floating" coach-- available to help wherever needed to FIX whatever needs fixed! I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned as a diver, and my experience in being dubbed the KING Baby Bunny.
Coach Jack
Assistant Team Coach
My name is Jack Matthews and I’ve been a diver for 15 years now and have competed on the world stage for The USA numerous times and won my fair share of medals. My career however, started right here at OSDC (now ACES) and I am a former OSU diver and currently finishing my undergrad at OSU in information systems.
Coach Hunter
Assistant Developmental Coach
Hunter is currently a student and former diver for OSU. He started coaching with us the Spring of 2022 ad continues as one of our lead coaches for the PREP team divers. Hunter wants divers to see the big picture of the world of diving and set their goals from there! Hunter loves to dance and you can catch him anytime, anywhere getting sturdy and hitting the griddy. He also likes apples a lot.
Coach Jamie
Assistant Developmental Coach
Jamie is a graduate student at OSU studying Healthcare Administration after graduating from George Washington University with a degree in public health. She started diving in high school with American Flyers Diving in Northeast Ohio after being a competitive gymnast for many years, then went on to dive in college at GW. At GW, Jamie received diving MVP 2 of the 3 years and placed in top 8 every year at Atlantic 10 Conference meet. A fun fact is that she has a twin sister, and her older sisters are also twins.
Coach Kylie
Assistant Developmental Coach
Kylie is a student and diver at OSU. Kylie is a former DDC diver and is majoring in computer stuff so can hopefully help Coach Jen with all this stuff because she dislikes this part of the job the most :)
Coach Nicole
Assistant Developmental Coach
Nicole has been involved in diving since the age of 7. She dove for Coach Jen as a member of Central Ohio Diving and competed collegiately at Ohio University. Nicole has coached multiple summer league teams and at Dublin Jerome, Coffman, and Scioto high schools. After a hiatus from coaching, she was brought back to the sport after her daughter, Maya (10), joined ACES Diving last fall. Nicole resides in Plain City with her husband Brad and their two daughters, Avery (13) and Maya. Nicole is a clinical pharmacist at Health First Medical Center and co-owner with her husband of Safesplash/Swim Labs swim schools in Columbus.
Coach Ashley
Assistant Developmental Coach
Coach Ashley White has been diving her whole life. She dove summer league at Westerville JC until she was 18 and competed for Big Walnut high school as a varsity athlete all 4 years, making state team senior year. Ashley started coaching lessons and summer league when she was 16. In 2015, she attended Bowling Green State University for nursing while competing on the swim and dive team until graduation in 2019. Currently she is working as a nurse at OSU and will be working part time as a coach. Fun fact, Ashley is the "A" in ACES and is Jen's oldest of 5 children!
Coach Jill
Assistant Developmental Coach / HS & MS Coach
Jill was a member of the original ACES diving program and has been a part of diving in Central Ohio for 20+ years. Jill is the Head Coach for Plain Township and The Columbus Country Club summer dive teams. She also coaches for numerous High schools including CSG, Gahanna, Pickerington and Columbus Academy. Jill was a diver and is a graduate of BGSU and is an intervention specialist for Worthington Christian.
Coach Elise
Assistant Developmental Coach
BIO coming soon!
Gunnar Carlson
Operations Director
Gunnar is a freshman at The Ohio State University majoring in Hospitality Management. Gunnar has designed and maintains the ACES Diving website, Central Ohio Dive League Website, and the iClass Pro Portal.
Shane White
Gym Custodian and Personal Trainer
Shane is a second year college student, studying to be a physical therapist. Currently working on his Personal training and nutrition certifications. She is a graduate of Big Walnut where he ran track as a 100/200 specialist and was the captain of the boys dive team. Fun fact-- he is the "S" in ACES.