Cliff Devries (born on October 30, 1973) is a diving coach with the Rochester Institute of Technology and a cancer survivor. He gained fame in 2016 and 2017 as a result of media coverage and a viral video of him diving off a 3-meter diving board while paralyzed.

Cliff Devries is an All-American diver.

As a diver, Cliff was a two-time Section V Champion and Empire State Games Champion.

He began his coaching career at Monroe Community College, serving as the founder of the Mavericks Dive Club.

In 1999, Devries began his first stint as the diving coach for the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Tigers. After taking a three-year hiatus, he returned to the same position in 2005.

Devries has coached several All-Americans.

He trained Natalie Snyder, who became RIT’s first female All-American diver in 2016.

He also coached All-American divers Quinn Donahoe and Matt Joseph earned All-American honors in 2007 and 2008.

In 2011, Upper New York State Athletic Conference Diver of the Year Evan Wendt.

In 2013, he mentored eventual All-American John Tellgren.

In 2014, Matt DePalo gained honors for the same title.

After his stints at MCC and RIT, Devries became the diving coach at the University of Rochester.

Chris Devries has won eight Conference Championships and has been named The Upper New York State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2011.

In addition to being a diving coach, Devries is also the director for Upstate New York Diving, the largest diving club in New York.

In 2006, he founded the Upstate New York Diving, which is currently the largest diving program in New York state.

He was named the Upper New York State Athletic Conference Diving Coach of the Year six times while coaching at RIT, most recently in 2016.

In 2018, he was the first diving coach to receive the Richard E. Steadman Award by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America.^[13]

Initially, Cliff Devries went to school at the University of Kentucky where he dove at the Division I level. However, he left school after just one semester after experiencing immense shoulder pain; it was to a point where he could not lift his right arm over his head. It was later known that his injuries were an effect of a tumor found in his brain.

However, when was a coach Rochester Insitute of Technology, he enrolled as a student. During his tenure, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 2002. He earned his CPA the following year.

In March 1995, Cliff Devries was diagnosed with a brain tumor; it was described as 6 inches long.

He underwent a successful 13-hour operation to get it removed.

However, the tumor left him paralyzed on his right side from the neck down.

After months of hard work, he regained the use of his left side.

Every year on his birthday, October 30, he dives into a pool from a diving board.

One of his dives off a 3-meter diving board went viral in November 2017.

In a video interview, he said the following:

He is supported by his wife, Stephanie and four kids.

His son, Corey, who helped him climb up the stairs and keep him steady before his dive.

His daughter, Grace, cheered him on poolside.

In March 2020, the ESPN E:60 2019 feature "Cliff Diving" about Devries was nominated for a Sports Emmy Award by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. The story depicting Devries' annual birthday dive off the 3-meter springboard at RIT's Judson Pool is one of five features in consideration for "Outstanding Long Feature."^[12]