Vicky Xu joined New York University as a volunteer assistant diving coach in September 2024.
Xu helped produce a pair of All-Americans during her first season. Issara Schmidt earned First (1-meter) and Second (3-meter) Team honors at the NCAA Division III Championships, while Maya Williams earned two Second Team distinctions. Schmidt was also the NCAA Regional 3-Meter Diving Champion. On the men’s side, William Hopkins earned Academic All-District honors from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
The combined performances of the divers and swimmers at the NCAA Division III Championships helped lead the Violets to best-ever team finishes (women 2nd, men 4th) in program history.
Xu brought a wealth of experience to NYU from her recent role as an assistant coach of the Penn State University swimming & diving team in 2023-24. While there, Xu led practice sessions for more than 20 hours per week, creating individualized training schedules to cater to the diverse needs of athletes. She effectively blended aquatic and dry training techniques to enhance muscle memory for divers and guided athletes through psychological strategies to thrive in high-pressure situations.
A standout student-athlete at the University of Kansas, Xu earned a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences in 2023. Her impressive accomplishments included being a Big 12 Diving Champion and achieving an NCAA Top-8 finish. Xu also produced a decorated career as a former Chinese National Team athlete with 13 World Championship titles and 19 World Championship medals.
Xu went on to earn a Master of Finance from Penn State in 2024.
In addition to her athletic background, Xu ran a small business in Hebei, China, from 2014-17, where she matched clients with suitable skincare products and conducted research to deepen her industry knowledge.
A native of Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province in China, Xu resides in Ozone Park, NY.
