Mother-daughter duo of Trish and Allison Brownlee help revive diving program at IUP

When IUP swimming coach Chris Villa received word the school would be reviving its diving program, little did he know he would find a diver and a coach in the same house.

Allison Brownlee, a Derry grad who competed at Division II Delta State in Mississippi, transferred to IUP to use her final two years of athletic eligibility. Her mother, Trish, a long-time high school diving coach at Derry, Ligonier Valley and Latrobe, came aboard as the Crimson Hawks’ diving coach.

Villa said Trish’s hiring came after Allison decided to transfer to IUP. He said it occurred organically after he learned of her credentials as a coach and former standout diver at Pitt while having conversations with both ladies during the transfer process.

It is Trish Brownlee’s first experience coaching college divers.

“Ever since I was in high school, she was like, ‘I’d love to be a college coach. I’d love to just try out the college world,’ ” Allison said. “We usually call her ‘Coach Mom’ just because I’m so used to calling her mom.”

Added Trish: “I have been coaching high school for 18-plus years and always wanted to coach college, but raising a family came first. (IUP) opened a new opportunity for me to add to my resume and grow as a college coach. It’s been fantastic working with a group of girls who are willing to take a chance at diving and work with me as a first-year coach.”

The other two divers, Allie McKinney and Jordyn Burkey, came in relatively raw. Burkey was a gymnast in high school, and McKinney, said Villa, was mostly self-taught. Trish Brownlee’s input has been valuable for both.

“She’s a great teacher, and I think diving especially you have to have a skill to teach these kids,” he said. “She’s doing a great job of teaching and allowing those girls to fulfill their potential.”

This season is the first in 15 years the school has fielded divers, and Villa is excited about what it means for the future. He hopes to add more divers, including on the men’s side, to help IUP be more successful.

“We’ve been a pretty competitive program nationally, and diving was the missing piece,” he said. “If we want to get to that top 10 or top eight or even better … (diving) was an opportunity to add points nationally that didn’t exist.”

Said Allison: “I think that’s one of the reasons I was drawn to IUP was they were just starting up the program. To be one of the first ones back was going to be a really cool experience.”

She made an instant impact. In her first meet — against Saint Vincent on Nov. 6 — she set a school record in the 1-meter dive (418.85 points) and qualified for the Division II national meet. She is believed to be the first IUP woman to qualify for the NCAA diving championships, and it will be her first experience at NCAAs in any event.

She also is adding points as a swimmer. A distance freestyler, Allison was a swimmer and diver at Delta State during her freshman and sophomore years. But between a shoulder injury that forced her to redshirt the 2019-20 season and last season’s covid disruptions, she hadn’t competed since her sophomore year.

The injury has improved significantly — though she said she still does therapy to keep the shoulder limber — and she has swum regularly for the Crimson Hawks. In dual meets — IUP is 5-0 — she has done the 200 free relay, 100 free (third place vs. Gannon), 200 free (second vs. Edinboro) and 500 free.

Her contributions could go a long way to helping the Crimson Hawks defend their conference championship. The women won their first PSAC title since 1999 last season, and with top athletes such as reigning PSAC Swimmer of the Year Paige Mikesell returning, plus the added points from the divers, IUP seems poised for a repeat.

“All the goals we have set have really drawn everyone to push harder in practices,” said Allison, who, in addition to working toward her master’s degree and competing is coaching the divers at Indiana High School. “I feel pretty confident in how everyone has been working. … I definitely think we have a good chance at a repeat.”

And that would be the cherry on the sundae for the mother-daughter team that has been reunited at the pool.

“The four years she was at Delta State, I really missed coaching her,” Trish said. “As a coach and mom, I needed her to go and grow into what she wanted to do with her life, travel and experience the outside world other than Derry, Pa.

“We have this mom/coach/daughter bond that I am glad we are able to share again with IUP.”