GPDA Staff

The GPDA coaching, administrative staff, and board are dedicated to serving our athletes and their families. If your questions are related to workouts, meets, events, goal setting, and other diving related needs, please contact one of the coaches. For all questions related to administrative, such as dues, safety, or policy issues, please contact Business Manager Kris Allan.

Gabe Downey

Head Coach & Executive Director

Gabe Downey is a 2009 Graduate of UMKC (Economics) and is the Head Coach of the Great Plains Diving Association. Prior to GPDA, Downey was the head coach and founded the Kansas City Dive Club, was the Assistant Coach for the Jayhawk Dive Club in Lawrence, the Interim Diving Coach for the University of Kansas, the girls' Diving Coach for Shawnee Mission North, and the Diving Coach at Milburn Country Club. Additionally, Downey currently doubles as the head coach at Indian Hills Country Club where he was awarded the 2009 CCSAKC Coach of the Year Award. As an athlete, Downey dove for the Blue Springs Dive Team, Shawnee Mission North, and the University of Nebraska. Downey also served as the athlete representative to United States Diving for the Missouri Valley Association.

Coaching Accomplishments:

2 International Qualifiers
12 Kansas State Championships
23 High School All-Americans
63 time Junior National Qualifiers

Diving Accomplishments:

4-time Kansas State Champion
Former Kansas State Record Holder
7-time Junior National Qualifier
Big 12 Finalist