In this episode of the Dreamers Beware podcast, I sit down with Manny Pollard, a 3x NCAA Division I All-American diver from the University of Minnesota. Today Manny is looked upon as one of the top diving coaches within the country. His coaching journey has taken him to programs across the country, including Illinois, Texas, and Minnesota. Manny has also become the first black diving coach for Team USA.

We explore Manny’s remarkable path in diving, from picking up the sport as a high school freshman to quickly becoming one of the nation’s best. He shares how the lessons he learned as an athlete continue to shape the way he coaches today. At the heart of our conversation is the power of the coach–athlete relationship. In a sport where success is often determined by someone else's opinion, Manny emphasizes how trust between coach and athlete can make all the difference.