Chris Pape joined Little Rock’s Team as the diving coach in July 2022. He came to Little Rock after two seasons in his second stint at South Dakota.
 
During the 2020-21 season at South Dakota, he coached three Coyote men’s divers to top-five finishes with runner-up performances on both boards. His work helped guide the team to its first Summit League team championship. On the women’s side, he coached Stella Fairbanks to claim gold in her first individual title on one-meter and a runner-up finish on the three-meter, while having three other divers finish in the top-eight in competitions throughout the season.
 
In the 2019-20 season, Pape helped the Coyotes’ men’s and women’s teams both finish as runners-up at the Summit League Championships. Thanks to his tutelage, Haley Pederson received All-Summit League honors in both the one-meter and three-meter boards and was an NCAA Zone Qualifier in both events. She placed in the top-eight in 15 of 16 opportunities on the year.
 
Prior to his arrival in Vermillion, he spent the previous six seasons as the diving coach at Lindenwood, then a NCAA Division II school in St. Charles, Missouri that is now a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in most sports alongside Little Rock.
 
During his tenure at Lindenwood, Pape saw 13 of his divers advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships. He was twice named New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC) Diving Coach of the Year.
 
Pape headed to St. Charles, Missouri after coaching one season at NCAA Division III Augsburg. He helped initiate the first official diving season in that school’s history.
 
Prior to Augsburg, he was a graduate assistant coach for two seasons at South Dakota. Pape coached nine conference finalists at South Dakota as well as coaching numerous pool-record breaking performances.
 
Pape was an all-conference and national qualifying diver at St. Cloud State from 2004-08. He was a five-time conference finalist and had a best showing of 15th on the three-meter dive at the NCAA Divsion II National Championship.
 
Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Pape received his bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State in elective studies, and earned his master’s from South Dakota in kinesiology and sport science.