Rider University Athletics

Chris Blair was hired in September of 2018 as the assistant diving coach for the Rider University swimming and diving team.

In the 2024-25 season, the men finished fifth and women ninth at MAAC Championships. On the men's side, the Broncs swept the Diving awards with Stavros Xantheas being named MAAC Diver of the Meet and Steven Figueroa earning MAAC Rookie Diver of the Meet honors.

Rider's streak came to an end in 2023-24 with the men finishing third at the MAAC Championships and the women placing eighth.

The men’s team made it 11 in a row in 2022-23, earning Head Coach Steve Fletcher another MAAC men’s Swimming Coach of the Year. On the women’s side, Karyn Creelman earned MAAC Rookie Diver of the Meet. The team had another NCAA Zone qualifier as Sean Binning represented the Broncs at the meet.

Returning from the COVID-19 pandemic, Fletcher led the Rider men to a tenth-straight MAAC Championship in 2021-22, earning MAAC Men’s Coach of Year honors. Sean Binning led the Broncs at the meet, earning MAAC Rookie Diver and Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet.

In 2019-20, the Rider men won a ninth-straight MAAC Championship and the women's team placed fifth. Fletcher was named MAAC Men's Coach of the Year for the ninth time. Justin Carey was named MAAC Swimmer of the Year and Dillon Walles earned MAAC Diver of the Year honors. Matt Lequang claimed MAAC Swimming Rookie of the Meet. Head Diving Coach, Kristen Simms was named MAAC Diving Coach of the Year as well.

In 2018-19, the Rider men captured their eighth straight MAAC Championship and the women's team finished in third place. Fletcher was honored once again as the MAAC Men's Coach of the Year and sophomore Dillon Walles was tabbed as the MAAC Men's Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet, while freshman Kayla May was recognized as the MAAC Women's Swimming Rookie of the Meet. At the MAAC Championships, the men's team set three new records. The Broncs also saw Head Diving Coach Kristen Simms named the MAAC Diving Coach of the Year. 

The Broncs saw two divers qualify for the NCAA Zone A Championships with both Walles and Joe Warker producing solid results. At the ECAC Championships, diver Meg Tomayko brought home a silver medal in the 3M. 

Chris Blair comes to Lawrenceville after spending two decades performing in professional diving shows and competitions. Like Simms, it is his second stint with the Broncs as he was on the staff from 2000-2003. During his first go around with Rider, he mentored five student-athletes that went on to earn MAAC Most Outstanding Diver of the Meet honors.
 
His coaching career began in 1988 at Saint Bonaventure where he spent five years. Before his first stop in Lawrenceville, he also spent five years (1995-2000) on the coaching staff at Villanova University.
 
Blair has coached one diver that has earned Division I All-American honors and he has overseen multiple student-athletes win conference titles, win diver of the year recognition and qualify for NCAA Regional events.
 
He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1988. As an undergrad, he was a BIG EAST Champion and also honored as the Big East Most Outstanding Diver. Blair was an NCAA Division I Qualifier and a Senior National Qualifier.
 
In his diving career, he has also earned a sixth-place finish at the Red Bull Copper Canyon Cliff Diving Championships.
 
"After missing several years of coaching while my children were young, I'm very excited about this opportunity," Blair said. "Returning to Rider, I knew I would be rejoining a program committed to excellence in every aspect of student life and committed to doing things the right way.  And to top everything off, I found six very talented divers already enrolled here at Rider."