Education
University of Michigan.
University of Michigan.
He later became a diving coach at the University of Minnesota, Princeton University, and the University of Alabama. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1970 and the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1989. In 1957, Webster led the Santa Ana Dons to second and third-place finishes at the conference and state swimming and diving competitions.
Sammy Lee was Webster"s swimming coach at Santa Ana.
Lee said, "Diving-wise, he was the greatest competitor I"ve ever coached. He really held up under competition, as both of his Olympic medals were by narrow margins.
They offered him a scholarship. The rest is history."
Webster then transferred to the University of Michigan where he was coached by Dick Kimball and Bruce Harlan.
His 1960 score on the platform was an Olympic record that remained unbroken when the scoring system was changed in 1972.
At the 1960 Olympics, only his coaches gave Webster much of a chance against Gary Tobian of the United States. and Britain"s Brian Phelps. But Webster saved his most difficult dives, and took the lead from Tobian with a near perfect 2½ somersault on his second to last dive. The margin of victory between Webster and silver medalist Tobian was less than one-third of a point—the narrowest in Olympic history.
After retiring from competitive diving, Webster became the diving coach at the University of Minnesota.
Webster was diving coach at Princeton from 1966 to 1975. He was also the coach for the United States. diving team at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.
Webster was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1970, and the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1989.