UT Empowers Student-Athlete to Dive Deeper
By Vivian DiSalvo (Class of 2026)
September 11, 2026
When Bennett Greene contemplates the pool beyond the edge of the platform, he knows every factor of the dive he’s about to make will contain some risk.
Taking off poorly, breaking form, or twisting too much could all result in losing points or even injury. But there’s always the chance he executes his dive perfectly, gracefully plunging into the pool and earning full marks.
Born and raised in Knoxville, Greene (Class of 2028) started swimming at a young age in a local swimming program for homeschooled children. He continued throughout middle school and high school as an athlete even after his siblings retired.
He hit a turning point as a diver in ninth grade when he broke the state record in men’s 1-meter diving by less than one point at the TISCA State High School Championships. Following the creation of his new state record, Greene realized he could make a career out of diving and promptly topped the same record as a junior. As his senior year approached, he knew he wanted to continue that journey with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, diving program he grew up around.
“I knew I wanted to stay local and dive at that amazing facility with all the great coaches,” says Greene. “I eventually built relationships with some of the older swimmers who ended up at UT and really looked up to them. I wanted to be a swimmer there, too.”
As a Volunteer, Greene knows he’s part of something bigger than himself. With UT’s resources, and support from alumni and donors, he has all he needs to succeed in and out of the pool—even when challenges emerge.
The only way to describe it is servant leadership. Everyone here, whether my coaches or teammates or other faculty, is always willing to help me, no matter what.”
Bennett Greene (Class of 2028)
The Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, a state-of-the-art swimming and diving facility, enabled UT to host the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials for Diving for the first time since 1976.
Cultivating Mental Strength
Starting out as a college athlete, Greene relied significantly on his physical ability for his success, but he also needed to build up mental strength. Working with head diving coach Jane Figueiredo, who also coached Olympic athlete Tom Daley, Greene learned to adapt his mindset and persevere despite discomfort.
“It was an ongoing fight of being mentally sharp and trusting the process,” says Greene. “Coach Jane said that Daley was never comfortable but learned to go up to the platform and do it anyways. I’ve learned to keep going, just like him.”
Greene was named 2026 SEC Male Diver of the Year while playing a role in consecutive top-five NCAA Championship finishes for the Vols, including a 2026 finish where UT scored its most points since 2001. Prior to the 2026 season, Greene became the first Vol diver to win gold since 2017 at the 2025 USA Diving Winter Nationals.
Much of that success is thanks to his teammates and coaches who have had a huge influence on him. Greene’s team pushes him to be the best diver he can be, whether that means cheering him on at a meet, hanging out on a day off, or heading to Buc-ee’s after a competition—a tradition for the team.
The team practices at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, which is one of the nation’s premier facilities for swimming and diving. Made possible with Allan Jones’s $4 million contribution in 2008, the state-of-the-art facility allowed UT to host the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials for Diving for the first time since 1976.
Alumni and donors like Jones help make successes like Greene’s possible, aiding him just as his teammates, coaches, professors, and counselors do.
“The only way to describe it is servant leadership,” says Greene. “Everyone here, whether my coaches or teammates or other faculty, is always willing to help me, no matter what.”
During his VOLeader experience, Greene embraced the process of leaning into brave, courageous leadership. As a result, he blossomed and grew into a confident, empathetic, and respected leader.”
Jessica Wildfire, executive director for student-athlete development
Becoming a Leader Beyond His Sport
Greene’s success transcends the pool. This past year, he was selected for VOLeaders Academy, a program designed to cultivate student-athlete leaders and inspire them to use their passion and influence to be a positive force for their team, campus, and local and global communities.
“So often student-athletes are deeply focused on achieving success in the classroom and on their field play. Less often do they take time to reflect on who they are, who they want to be, and how to get there,” says Jessica Wildfire, executive director for student-athlete development. “With the VOLeaders Academy, these young people are even more poised to leave our campus and be world-changing leaders in their corner of the globe.”
The program includes two leadership classes, one of which focuses on leadership in sports and includes a full-day leadership retreat. The year-long experience culminates in a 10-day immersive cultural experience.
In 2020, the generosity of Donnie (’80) and Terry (’80) Smith funded an expansion of the VOLeaders Academy. The Smiths’ support of the program’s expansion was inspired by their passion and vision to provide student-athletes with a foundation of servant leadership.
“The VOLeaders Academy has been one of the greatest philanthropic investments we have made,” say Donnie and Terry Smith. “It equips these remarkable student-athletes to develop their unique gifts in a way that not only serves themselves, their teams, their campus, and their families, but also positions them to use their gifts and leadership abilities to make an indelible impact on the world for the rest of their lives.”
One of Greene’s favorite moments of participating in the program was meeting and hearing from Donnie Smith.
Bennett Greene won gold at the 2025 USA Diving Winter Nationals and was named 2026 SEC Male Diver of the Year.
“It was super special to see someone who cares about more than us just being athletes—he wants to see us develop as leaders,” says Greene.
For his immersive cultural experience, Greene visited Brazil, where he worked alongside nonprofits who serve children and young people, using sport as a vehicle to create change in their communities.
“It was such an eye-opening experience that allowed me to see that sport is so much more than just competition,” says Greene. “It’s a universal language that teaches teamwork, discipline, and leadership while bringing hope and laughter to others.”
On the trip, Greene modeled inclusive leadership, empowering his peers and the people he met in Brazil to be Volunteers both in and outside of their athletic endeavors.
“During his VOLeader experience, Greene embraced the process of leaning into brave, courageous leadership,” says Wildfire. “As a result, he blossomed and grew into a confident, empathetic, and respected leader.”
Backed by donors, the VOLeaders Academy has been the most unique leadership development experience in college athletics for a decade, largely because of donors who grabbed hold of the vision and understood the immense impact it could have on the student-athlete experience.
“Without donor support, VOLeaders would not be as deeply embedded into the fabric of Tennessee Athletics,” says Wildfire. “We do not take for granted the support that has been provided and will continue pouring into our student-athletes through the academy.”
Diving into the Champion Mindset
The trip, paired with the classes and other experiences in the VOLeaders Academy, taught Greene what it means to lead and serve like a Volunteer. He shines as a leader and encourager not just in athletics but in every space he steps into.
“We’re all together in this. We all have our own experiences, and it’s so helpful to build each other up and help each other evolve,” says Greene. “Being there and being encouraging by lifting up other athletes and individuals is a huge part of what it means to be a Volunteer.”
Greene’s successes as a student-athlete are a tribute to his Volunteer support system. That includes alumni and donors who helped provide the resources and opportunities—even the literal platform—for Greene to thrive as an athlete and as a leader on campus.
Now, when Greene stands up on that platform, peering down into the deep water, he knows he can take on every dive with a community of support behind him.
VOLeaders Academy helps students like Greene refine their leadership skills, cultivating the Volunteer spirit
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