Todd Waikel is in his third season as the assistant diving coach at Indiana University.

Last year, Waikel and head diving coach Dr. Jeff Huber produced a group that dominated the Big Ten scene. Christina Loukas turned in one of the most dominant performances in Big Ten diving history, becoming just the fourth league diver to win all three diving events at the meet. Loukas set a new school and Big Ten record in winning the platform and a new school record in taking the three-meter, earning Big Ten Diver of the Year and Diver of the Championships honors for the third straight year.

For the men, David Legler finished second on the platform at the Big Ten meet, while Taylor Roberts was fifth on the platform and sixth on the three-meter.

Loukas went on to earn first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships with a second-place finish in the 1-meter, blowing away her old school record with a six-dive total of 360.35. Brittney Feldman finished 10th, and Lindsay Weigle 13th to earn honorable mention All-America honors.

Not done yet, Loukas snagged her first national title with a win the the 1-meter at the 2007 Kaiser Permanente National Championships. She was also a silver medalist in the 3-meter and earned a bronze in the 3-meter synchro at the World University Games.

In his first season with the Hoosiers, Waikel helped the IU divers post impressive showings on both the Big Ten and NCAA levels. On the men's side, Waikel assisted Huber in coaching Big Ten Co-Diver of the Year and Diver of the Championships Brian Mariano. Mariano advanced to the championship finals in all three boards, winning the platform and coming in fifth in both the one- and three-meters.

The Hoosiers produced two male diving All-Americans in 2006, Waikel's first season with the program. Taylor Roberts, the Big Ten champion on the three-meter, finished seventh on that board at the NCAA Championships and was 16th from the tower. Ryan Fagan placed eighth in the platform and was 15th in the one-meter.

The women's diving team turned in a season for the ages in 2006, as well. Loukas was named Big Ten Co-Diver of the Year and Co-Diver of the Championships after winning the one-meter and finishing second from the tower. Indiana had three finalists in the platform, with Weigle finishing third behind Loukas and Heather Chapman placing fifth.

That success carried over into the NCAA Championships, as Loukas earned All-American status from all three boards. She finished second on the three-meter, fifth on the one-meter and was sixth on the platform. Weigle also earned a trip to the awards stand, as she took bronze from the tower.

"I feel very fortunate to have Todd on our coaching staff," Huber said. "He and I share a common vision for the future of the IU program, and the goals we want to accomplish within the next 5-10 years. He brings 17 years of coaching experience and a familiarity with United States diving and diving within the state of Indiana. He is well-known and extremely well liked and respected by the coaching community and brings new ideas and a great deal of enthusiasm to our program."

Prior to joining the Hoosiers, Waikel served as the head diving coach for Northern Indiana Diving in Fort Wayne, Ind., from 2001-05. In 2005, Waikel guided Daniel Freble to the U.S. Open, Andrew Krafft to the U.S./Canadian All-Star Meet and the Junior Open Winter Nationals' silver medal. He also served as a judge at both the men's and women's Big Ten Championships. In 2004, Waikel tutored Krafft to All-American honors on both the one- and three-meter, and he helped Freble to the U.S./Canadian All-State Meet Bronze Medal on the one-meter in 2003.

Before working with Northern Indiana, Waikel worked with Fort Wayne Community Schools as an assistant director of its natatorium in 2000, and at Michiana College as a college recruiter from 1999-2000. He also served as the head coach of Central Ohio Diving and was the owner-operator of the Columbus Creed from 1995-99.

On the administrative side of the sport, Waikel is a member of the U.S. Diving Committee for Continued Excellence sub committee, and is a senior representative for the Indiana Diving Association (IDA). He also is the Junior Olympic Chairperson for the IDA, and a voting delegate for U.S. Diving.

Previously, Waikel operated as the vice president of the Ohio Diving League from 1995-99, and was on the U.S. Diving Grassroots Committee from 1996-2002. Additionally, Waikel chaired the Junior Olympic Committee for the Ohio Diving Association from 1995-99.

Internationally, Waikel served as the team leader for the 2005 U.S./Canada Challenge, the 1999 Alpine Diving Tour in 1999 and the 1997 Italian Diving Tour. He also hosted the Denmark National Team in 1999.

Waikel also is certified by U.S. Diving to travel throughout the nation certifying coaches in safety policies and procedures. Additionally, Waikel teaches for U.S. Diving's Grassroots and Dive Safe. He also instructs the U.S. Diving Spotting Training courses.

The Warsaw, Ind., native graduated in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in speech communications from Purdue University.

Waikel and his wife, Marlene, are the parents of seven children: Damian, Hannah, Nathan, Dominic, Jonah, Paul and Christopher.