Off the Deck

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Remember you can reach me on twitter @stevecarrera and on instagram @stevecarrera and you can email me [email protected]

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From ISHOF.org

Sandy Nitta began her water polo career first by participating in competitive swimming and developing her swimming skills. A member of Hall of Fame Coach Don Gambril’s City of Commerce Swim Team, she became a member of the 1964 USA Olympic Swim Team competing in the breaststroke. After her competitive career, she coached swimming for a few years, but soon turned her attention to the coaching and development of water polo, which has stayed with her ever since.

In 1971, Sandy started the City of Commerce Water Polo program and coached the team to many national championships. She soon moved into positions of leadership, serving as the USA’s Women’s International Chairperson from 1976 to 1978. From 1980 to the present, she has given water polo clinics all around the world including New Zealand, Australia, England, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Singapore, India, France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico. In 1977, Commerce hosted the first-ever Women’s International Tournament in the United States and Sandy was the Tournament Director. She was one of the original coaches who began the push for the inclusion of women’s water polo at the Olympic Games, which became a reality in 2000, Sydney.

Since her beginning days, Sandy has had an extensive head water polo coaching career in women’s water polo. She was the first Head Coach for the United States Junior National Team (1979). For 17 years (1980-1996, 1998), she was head coach of the USA Senior National Team. She was also head coach of the Queensland, Australia State Team (1996) and the Brazilian Senior National Team (1999-2002) where she coached at the first Pan American Games to include women’s water polo and the first-ever wins against the United States by the Brazilian team. For two years (2000-2002), she was coach of the Tualatin Hills Water Polo Club in Portland, Oregon and then Head Coach of Team Vegas in Las Vegas (1992-2000) and currently Team Vegas/Henderson (2002 to present). Other positions of leadership include: U.S. Water Polo Masters Advisory Committee (2008-2011), USA Water Polo Hall of Fame Committee (2006-2010), USA Water Polo Board of Directors (2010 to present), U.S. Olympic Development Director of the West Region (2011 to present) and Co-Chairperson of the U.S.A. USA Water Polo Coaches Association.

Sandy was coach to the gold medal team at the 2006 FINA Masters World Championships and the women’s 50+ division at the 2012 Senior Games. She is the first and only female water polo coach in the U. S. Water Polo Hall of Fame and in her honor, the “Sandy Nitta Distinguished Women’s Coach Award” is presented annually by United States Water Polo.

Sandy’s greatest influence to her water polo players under her guidance is her character. As a competitive swimmer, she was short making it difficult competing against taller swimmers. She would be leading by a body length before the turn and come out of the turn a half body length behind. But her drive and toughness led to a position on the Olympic Team. She fought for the “underdog”. When she began coaching the City Of Commerce Water Polo Team, it consisted mostly of lower income, Hispanic families who also were not tall nor came from competitive backgrounds. Yet, they achieved success. When coaching the USA Women’s National Team in the 1980’s, she had 125 to 150 players across the entire United States. Even when coaching them outside of the California hot-bed of water polo, Sandy achieved success from her players. It shows greatness and sound character.

Sandy enjoys fresh water fishing, playing video games and playing poker. But you may want to think twice before putting any money on the poker table. She made it to the final table at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas - a real smart competitor.

You can help support this podcast by making a donation via PayPal.

If you’re a coach, join our slack channel! The conversations are great and we have some webinars as well!

Buy Fredric Durand’s book Water Polo Legends: 50 Amazing Stories

Thank you to everyone that has take the time to leave a review, send me an email or send me a tweet. It has truly meant the world to me!

Remember you can reach me on twitter @stevecarrera and on instagram @stevecarrera and you can email me [email protected]

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From USAWaterPolo.org

Find Adam Krikorian on twitter @WaterPoloCoachK

Since taking over the Women's Senior National Team, Adam Krikorian has been just about perfect. From his arrival in 2009 Team USA has competed in 17 major FINA Championships and come away with Gold in 14. This includes the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, 2009 and 2015 FINA World Championships, the 2010 and 2014 FINA World Cups, seven FINA World League Super Final crowns and the 2016 Olympic Qualification Tournament. He's helped the United States maintain a number-one world ranking for the majority of his tenure and was honored in 2013 with the USOC National Coach of Year Award, only the second water polo coach to receive the honor. In October of last year he was named the 2013 Jack Kelly Fair Play Award recipient by the USOC for his accountability and composure during the 2012 Olympic Games semifinal match.

Following the 2016 Olympic Games, Krikorian was named Coach of the Games by the USOC at the Team USA Awards. In early 2017 Krikorian was also honored by the Los Angeles Sports Council and the LA Sports Award receiving the first ever "Extraordinary Achievement In Olympic Sport" honors.

Krikorian was named head coach of the USA Water Polo Women's Senior National Team on March 27, 2009. He had been head coach of the UCLA men's and women's programs for 10 years prior.

A standout player at UCLA from 1992 to 1995, Krikorian captained the squad in his final year, leading UCLA to the 1995 Men's NCAA Championship, the school's first title in 23 years.

Krikorian has earned National Women's Water Polo Coach of the Year honors five times: 2001 and from 2005 through 2008. He also received National Men's Coach of the Year honors in 2004 after leading the UCLA men's program to its eighth overall NCAA championship. He has guided the women's team to seven national championships, six sanctioned by the NCAA, including a string of five consecutive titles. In addition he's piloted the men's program to three NCAA titles; two of the three came as he served as co-head coach with Guy Baker.

Krikorian graduated from UCLA with a psychology degree and a business administration emphasis in June 1997. In May 2001 Krikorian married Anicia Mendez, a four-year Bruin letter-winner in varsity tennis who completed her MBA at UCLA. Adam and Anicia reside in Manhattan Beach, CA, with their son, Jack (born July 2006) and daughter Annabel (born June 2009).

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From USAWaterPolo.org

Dejan Udovicic was named Head Coach of the USA Water Polo Men's Senior National Team on May 7, 2013. Udovicic, the former head coach of the Serbian national team, joined USA Water Polo after leading Serbia to a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, his teams' 16th medal in the last 17 major championship events. Udovicic has helped restore the USA Men to among the top ranked teams in international water polo with a fifth place finish at the 2014 FINA World League Super Final and a fourth place finish at the 2014 FINA World Cup. Udovicic led Team USA to gold at the 2015 Pan American Games which also earned qualification to the 2016 Olympic Games. In 2016 the USA Men won their first medal at a major FINA competition in eight years earning silver at the 2016 FINA World League Super Final. They followed with a 10th place finish at the 2016 Olympic Games.

The most successful coach in Serbian team sports, Udovicic has compiled nearly 500 victories while winning more than 80 percent of all matches. He led the Radnicki Water Polo Club to a Euro Cup title and an appearance in the Serbian National Championship final in their first year of competition.

Udovicic was named Head Coach of the Serbian National Team in June, 2006 following the separation of Serbia and Montenegro. In the six years that followed he built Serbia into a water polo powerhouse. Included in his run was a FINA World Championship in 2009, two FINA World Cup titles in 2006 and 2010, two European Championships in 2006 and 2012, two bronze medals at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, and five FINA World League Super Final titles.

In addition to his duties with the national team, Udovicic was also the longtime coach of VK Partizan, one of Serbia's top water polo clubs. From 2000-2009 he led the club to four national championships, four national cups and an appearance in the Euroleague final four. No stranger to the club, Udovicic played for Partizan along with neighboring VK Beograd, in a playing career that spanned more than 10 years.

You can help support this podcast by making a donation via PayPal.

If you’re a coach, join our slack channel! The conversations are great and we have some webinars as well!

Buy Fredric Durand’s book Water Polo Legends: 50 Amazing Stories

Thank you to everyone that has take the time to leave a review, send me an email or send me a tweet. It has truly meant the world to me!

Remember you can reach me on twitter @stevecarrera and on instagram @stevecarrera and you can email me [email protected]

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Chris Segesman was a water polo standout at Dos Pueblos High School from 1994- 1997. He went on to play at Cal State Long Beach from 1997-2002 while earning a BA in human development and a minor in kinesiology. He earned his Masters in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University.

A three-time All-American at Long Beach, Segesman was also a finalist for the Pete Cutino Male College Athlete of the Year award.

From 2000-2004 Segesman was a member of the United States Water Polo National Team and a 2004 Olympian in Athens. He counts his proudest moment as hearing the National Anthem play before the first match of the 2004 Olympic Games.

Since the Olympics, Segesman has gone on to a successful coaching career at Mater Dei High School, where he also serves as the Associate Athletic Director. He has guided both the girls’ and boys’ teams since 2005, earning the Division 2 Boys Water Polo Coach of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009. In 2009 he was the Orange County Boys Water Polo Coach of the year and notched the Division 1 honor in 2010. In 2011, Segesman was named the Southern California Fall Coach of the Year.

Segesman lives in Tustin, Calif., with his wife Heather and children Reaghan (6), Paige (2) and Madison (8 months).

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Remember you can reach me on twitter @stevecarrera and on instagram @stevecarrera and you can email me [email protected]

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From pridewaterpolo.com

Jack Kocur is the Co-Founder of Pride Water Polo Academy. In addition, Jack was the USA Men’s National Team Assistant Coach and the Head Coach of the Oaks Christian Water Polo Program. Coach Kocur brings a professional history that highlights his capability to build successful teams at every level of competition.

Prior to cofounding the Pride Water Polo Academy, Jack served as the Director of Operations for the Men’s Water Polo Team at the University of Pacific. Kocur also served on staff for the USC Trojan’s and helped the team win their 5th NCAA Championship in a row.

Kocur was the Head Coach of the Pepperdine University Men’s Water Polo Team for six years. In 2008, he was named MPSF Co-Coach of the Year as the Waves went 21-7 overall, earning a No. 2 national ranking.

Coach Kocur also has a history of success at the USAWP Age Group level. He was the co-founder and owner of the Waves Water Polo Club and won three different age group championships over a three-year period.

As a player, Kocur was first-team NCAA All-American and a member of Pepperdine’s 1997 NCAA National Championship team. He was also a member of the USA Men’s National Team for over six years.

Jack resides in Moorpark, with his wife Jodie and three children: Camden, Sadie and Savannah.

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From the site - http://azevedowaterpolo.com/about/ricardo-azevedo/

Azevedo is regarded as one of the most dynamic water polo coaches in the history of the sport. In a career spanning four decades, he has coached water polo at the high school, college, and Olympic levels in at least eight countries. Born in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, Azevedo competed for the Brazilian National Water Polo team from 1973-1981. In 1974 he moved to the USA, where he became an All-American water polo player for Long Beach State University.

Azevedo began his water polo coaching career at Wilson High School in Long Beach California where, as head coach, he led teams to five finals and four Championships. Following this success, he coached at Long Beach State University, heading both the men’s and women’s water polo programs. From 1996-2004 Azevedo worked with water polo legend Ratko Rudic to coach the USA Men’s Water Polo Team (he served as head coach of Team USA from 2005-2007).

Azevedo then moved to Italy where he became the first-ever American citizen to coach a professional European water polo team (Rari Nantes Camogli). Over the past five years he has coached both the men’s and women’s Chinese Olympic teams, substantially improving their level of play and fitness.

In addition to these professional commitments, Azevedo unofficially coached and mentored his son Tony and daughter Cassandra – both of whom played professional water polo. Tony became a 5-time Olympian and one of the best water polo players of the century.

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twitter: @dleyson

From the UC Davis athletic web site:

Leyson brought an immediate impact to UC Davis men's water polo, guiding the Aggies to an undefeated conference record in his first year. The 2015 squad then reached new heights: the program's best win-loss percentage (.692) since 2007 and the highest national ranking (No. 9) since 2011. For his achievements, Leyson was awarded the Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Men's Coaching Award by USA Water Polo. He also served as the head coach for USA NorCal in the second season of the USAWP National League.

Never one to rest on laurels, Leyson continues to raise the bar for Aggie men's water polo. In 2016, the former U.S. National Team player and coach guided UC Davis to its first Western Water Polo Association championship and NCAA postseason appearance since 1997. Leyson was subsequently named as WWPA Coach of the Year. That 2016 squad set school records for wins (23), winning percentage (.793), goals scored (12.6 per game) and final national ranking (No. 10).

Leyson's experience in Spain later paid dividends in his coaching career: the 2015 Aggies took part in an eight-day team training camp at the Barcelona International Water Polo Academy.

After concluding his playing career in 1998 with Club Natacio Atletic-Barceloneta, a 1st-division Spanish team, Leyson embarked on his coaching career at USC where he assisted Vavic from 2000-02. The 2000 Trojans team finished third at the NCAA Championship.

Leyson gained valuable international experience from 2002-04 while working with Rudic on the U.S. National Team. The U.S. participated in the FINA World League, 2003 World Championships and 2003 Pan American Games before heading to Athens.

From 2005 until his arrival at UC Davis, Leyson served as head coach of the Rose Bowl Water Polo Club, which has tripled its membership to more than 200 members representing 70 schools during his tenure. He earned Best Coach accolades in the 2010 Ironman League while leading the 16-under boys team to the league's championship.

Leyson was named winner of the Bill Barnet Distinguished Men's Coach Award (Scholastic) from the U.S.A Water Polo Assembly in 2011. Three of his boys teams that year captured gold medals at the South Florida International competition. He also served as head coach for the California Coastal Zone for the Olympic Development Team (2006-07).

Leyson has served as UCLA's assistant coach for the past two seasons, helping them to a championship in the powerful Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and a pair of runner-up finishes at the NCAA Championships.

Leyson earned his undergraduate degree in business from USC in 1992 and his master's in physical education, with an emphasis on coaching, from Ball State in 2008.

He and his wife, Camille, are parents to daughter Mia and twin sons, Benjamin and Silas.

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Twitter: @FelixMM021

Felix Mercado enters his 12th season as the head coach of Brown University’s men’s and women’s water polo teams in 2018-19 having coached 23 all-conference performers and 10 All-Americans on the men’s side alone during his time with the Bears.

Mercado led the Brown men’s team to its first appearance in the NCAA Championship since 1990 in 2014 after the team claimed its first CWPA title since 1985. He guided the team to a 27-7 overall mark and its first Northern Division title since 2009. In 2014, he gained both CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year honors and Dick Russell Coach of the CWPA Tournament accolades while mentoring a pair of All-Americans in Henry Fox ’15 and Will Klein ’16.

In 2016, Mercado guided the Bears to their third straight regular season title, claiming the inaugural NWPC regular season championship. Mercado won NWPC Coach of the Year accolades and coached NWPC Player of the Year Luke Weiser ’17 and a pair of ACWPC All-Americans in Yahel Murvitz-Lahav ’17 and Jake Wyatt ’17.

The 2015 edition of Mercado’s men’s team won a second consecutive CWPA Northern Division title and notched an undefeated 12-0 mark in CWPA Northern Division play during the regular season. Klein earned CWPA Northern Division Player of the Year accolades while he and Matty Gallas ’16 garnered All-American status.

During the 2017 season, Mercado guided the Bears to their eighth straight 20-win season with a 21-12 overall record. He coached a trio of All-NWPC performers in Tommy Bush ’18, Rico Burke ’18, and Tyler Kirchberg ’18 as well as an ACWPC All-America selection in Kirchberg. In the spring, Mercado organized special exhibition matches with the Puerto Rico National Teams, providing the teams with training opportunities as the island continued to recover from Hurricane Maria.

In 2018, Mercado mentored four All-NWPC performers in Travis Bouscaren ’19, Armen Deirmenjian ’20, Hudson Rawlings ’20, and Riad Hallal ’21. The Bears concluded the year with an 18-14 record, marking their ninth straight season with 18 or more wins.

In 2013, Mercado led the men's water polo team to its fourth straight 20-plus win season that culminated in a 15-9 victory over Harvard to earn fifth place at the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Championships. Mercado mentored two CWPA Northern Division First Team picks in James McNamara ’14 and Fox.

Mercado’s men’s side posted a 29-4 mark in 2012 with Svetozar Stefanovic ’13 earning All-America honors for the fourth straight season in addition to his fourth consecutive Northern Division Player of the Year award. Under Mercado, the Bears went 20-12 in 2010 and 21-11 in 2011.

Mercado enjoyed a banner year in 2009 as the men's water polo team won a Northern Division title and the women's team claimed an Eastern College Association Conference (ECAC) championship. Mercado took home CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year at Brown, earning the honor on the women’s side in 2008 and 2009 and on the men’s side in 2007.

Mercado was hired in the summer of 2007 as Brown's men's and women's water polo coach. He spent the two seasons prior to coming to Brown at the helm of the MIT men's varsity and women's club teams after one year as an assistant.

In 2006, he was named CWPA Division III and CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year after leading MIT's men's team to a second-place finish at the Division III Eastern Championship and the team's third-ever appearance at the Division I Eastern Championship. He posted a 26-34 record in Cambridge, as the Engineers attempted to integrate 12 freshmen into the program in 2006 after a 15-14 record in 2005.

In two years as the coach of the MIT club women's team, Mercado's squads posted a 30-3 record, making back-to-back appearances at the Club National Championships. He was named the North Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in 2007. Mercado also served as an assistant coach at Hartwick College in the spring, as the Hawks finished fifth at the NCAA Championship.

Before arriving in Cambridge, Mercado spent 11 years coaching at Ransom Everglades School in Miami, Fla. During his tenure with Ransom, Mercado helped guide his squad to three Florida State Championships in the boys division and coached the girls program to six straight Final Four finishes.

In December 2013, Mercado was elected President of the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches, as announced by ACWPC Executive Director Larry Sanders.

Mercado was also the head coach and founder of the Raider Water Polo Club Foundation, and led the program to six Southeast Zone Championships. He has also offered his coaching expertise at numerous national team development camps for USA Water Polo.

Mercado earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management from American Intercontinental University in 2006. He also has an Associate of Arts degree in Secondary Education from Miami Dade College.

The Mercado File

Awards & Accolades
NCAA Men’s Appearances: 2014
CWPA Men’s Championships: 2014
CWPA Northern Division Men’s Championships: 2009, 2014, 2015
NWPC Men’s Coach of the Year: 2016
CWPA Northern Division Men’s Coach of the Year: 2006, 2007, 2014
CWPA Northern Division Women’s Coach of the Year: 2008, 2009
CWPA Southern Division Women’s Coach of the Year: 2012, 2014
Dick Russell Coach of the CWPA Men’s Tournament: 2014

You can help support this podcast by making a donation via PayPal.

Thank you to everyone that has take the time to leave a review, send me an email or send me a tweet. It has truly meant the world to me!

Remember you can reach me on twitter @stevecarrera and on instagram @stevecarrera and you can email me [email protected]

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Twitter: @jamesgraham07

Bio from the UOP athletic site:

3-Time GCC Coach of the Year| 2-Time MPSF Coach Of the Year| 1-Time National Coach of the Year| 3 GCC Championship Titles| 4 NCAA Championship Appearances

James Graham enters his 10th season at the helm of the Pacific men's water polo program and sixth year as head coach for the women's water polo team. Compiling a combined record of 267-185 during his ten-year tenure with the Orange and Black, Graham has solidified his role as one of the most decorated and successful coaches in Pacific history.

National Team Experience

An active member of the U.S. National Olympic programs dating back to 2005, Graham recently served as the Head Men's Water Polo Coach for Team USA at the 2017 University Games in Taipei. Graham has been the head of analytics for the men's and women's team since 2013. Graham provided analysis to help prepare both squads for the 2016 Rio Olympics. During the summer of 2012, Graham traveled to London, England to help the U.S. Men's Water Polo team at the London Olympics by conducting statistical analysis on all competing teams. Graham provided the U.S. coaching staff with in-depth breakdowns of opponent's tendencies. He would go on to join assistant professor of Mathematics at Pacific, John Mayberry, to author "Measures of Tactical Efficiency in Water Polo", a study published in the Journal of Analysis in Sports.

Graham also served as an assistant coach for the United States National Youth team from 2005-2007, coaching the National 2-Meter Development Camp and Holiday Camp held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Pacific Men's Water Polo Head Coach

-Overall Record (10 Seasons): 166-109
-Three consecutive National Top 5 finishes
-Top 5 ranking in 102 of the last 120 weeks
-24x All-America Accolades
-30x All-Conference Accolades
-3x Cutino Award Finalist
-1 2x Cutino Award Winner
-1x NCAA Elite 90 Recipient
-2x NCAA Championship Appearances

On the men's side, Graham has helped build the Tigers into one of the nation's elite programs. Adopting a mentality to "Dream Big" and compete with the best, the Tigers have finished as one of the top four teams in the CWPA Top 20 in four of the last five seasons.

In his tenth year, Graham has coached the Orange and Black to three 20+ win seasons and eclipsed the 125+ win mark over competition ranked in the Top 25.

Pacific finished atop the national polls this past 2017-2018 season with a final record of 21-6 and national ranking of No. 5. The Tigers won their first GCC Championship, beating out No. 7 UC Irvine to clinch their first title and defeating Pomona Pitzer for their second-ever NCAA victory in program history. The Orange and Black's efforts helped Graham snag his first Men's WP GCC Coach of the Year Award.

The 2013-2014 season was a monumental stepping stone for the men's water polo, improving from 13-12 the previous year to clinching their first 20+ win season in Pacific Water Polo history (23-5). The Tigers held the No. 1 ranking for seven straight weeks, making it to their first-ever NCAA Championship in an overtime match with USC.

Individual records during Graham's time include 24 All-America Accolades, 30 All-Conference (GCC, MPSF) Accolades, and two Conference Player of the Year awards.

Pacific Women's Water Polo Head Coach

-Overall Record (6 Seasons): 101-76
-15+ win seasons in five out of the last six
-2x GCC Coach of the Year
-9x All-American Accolades
-19x All-Conference Accolades
-1x NCAA Elite 90 Recipient
-2x NCAA Championship Appearances

Taking over as the head coach for Women's Water Polo on June 12, 2012, Graham became the first individual in school history to coach both teams simultaneously. In six seasons with the Orange and Black, Graham has uplifted this program to a Top-10 nationally ranked team, compiling a record of 101-76, it's highest win total in program history.

Graham has been a part of the growth of the women's team first-hand, going from an unranked team in 2014 to progressing to it's highest ranking in program history this year at No. 6.

Following three GCC Championship appearances, back-to-back GCC Championships (2017, 2018) and two consecutive NCAA selections (2017, 2018) the Tigers have evolved into a dominant powerhouse capable of competing with the nation's best. Pacific broke records this past 2017-2018 season, achieiving it's highest-ever seeding at No. 5 in the NCAA Women's Water Polo Championships. The Orange and Black are 29-17 in the last two seasons competing against Top-25 competition, seven of those wins coming against opponents ranked No. 10 or better.

Graham has also developed some of Pacific's finest water polo players during his time with the Orange and Black, helping the program earn 19-All-Conference Team accolades, eight NCAA All-Americans, and two GCC Player of the Year awards.

Personal
Graham currently resides in Stockton, Calif. with his daughter Maggie.

Life Prior to Pacific

Graham began his playing career at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played for two years. His stellar play garnered an Honorable Mention All-America and All-Northern California honors during the 1999 season. Graham spent his final two years at the University of Redlands, suiting up for the Bulldogs from 2001-02. Redlands never lost a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game while Graham was there, winning the Big 8 League Title both of his two years. Graham was a two-time Academic All-American and earned All-SCIAC honors as a senior.

Prior to joining Pacific, Graham would go back to coach at his alma mater, Santa Rosa Junior College. Graham build the Bear Cubs into a state power, carrying a career record of 86-50-1 which included a school-best third place finish at the California State Championships and Big 8 Conference title in 2007. For his efforts, Graham was named the 2007 Big 8 Conference Coach of the Year. It was his second consecutive Coach of the Year honor as he won the same award in 2006 after taking the Bear Cubs to the Northern California Championship. He was honored as the Northern California Coach of the year in 2006.

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Thank you to everyone that has take the time to leave a review, send me an email or send me a tweet. It has truly meant the world to me!

This was such a great conversation! Ted and I talked about what its like to coach at Harvard and what he is trying to do to build a community. He also goes into some detail on recruiting which was very insightful.

Bio (from the Harvard website)

Ted Minnis is in his ninth year as The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach. Minnis is the 10th coach in Harvard men's and women's water polo history, and the first individual to serve in the role since the position was endowed in May 2013.

During the 2017 campaign with the men's team, Minnis helped lead the Crimson to a 24-8 overall record, a second-straight Northeast Water Polo Conference title and a second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The men's team concluded it's season with a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals in Los Angeles. He also helped guide freshman Dennis Blyashov to All-America third-team and NEWPC Rookie of the Year recognition, along with sophomore Austin Sechrest who was named an All-America honorable mention. Minnis now boasts 149 victories with the men's team.

Coach Minnis became the winningest coach in Harvard water polo history for both the men’s and women’s programs during the 2016-17 season. On the men’s side, Minnis won his program-best 100th game on the opening day of the 2016 season against then-No. 10 UC Davis. Minnis and the Crimson finished with an overall record of 27-7, pushing his then-total to 125 victories. He is also the all-time leader in wins for the women's water polo program with 111 total wins, surpassing Chris Hafferty’s total of 81 wins during the 2014-15 campaign.

The 2016 Harvard men’s water polo team recorded its third-straight season with 20-plus wins for the first time in school history and defeated a program record 13 ranked opponents. Harvard reached as high as No. 8 in the CWPA poll, marking its highest ranking ever. The Crimson won the first conference championship in school history, taking home the Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Championship and clinching its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance. Harvard went on to win its first NCAA tournament game with a victory over No. 12 Bucknell, before defeating No.9 UC Davis to secure a spot in the NCAA Final Four.

Minnis was recognized as the Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Men's Coaching Award winner of 2016. He won the award for the Northeast zone earlier in the year, before being voted as the national recipient by a panel of judges.

Minnis was selected as the 2016 USA Water Polo Zone Award Winner at the conclusion of the season for the Northeast. He helped guide Joey Colton to second-team All-America honors and Noah Harrison to All-America honorable mention. Colton, along with Dan Stevens, was named NWPC first team as well.

On the women's side in 2016-17, Minnis helped lead the Crimson to a 15-14 mark and its highest finish since 2000 at the CWPA Championships. A team that allowed less than eight goals a game throughout the year, the Crimson powered past Indiana to reach the semifinals and ultimately record fourth overall at the tournament.

In 2015, Coach Minnis guided the men’s program to a 21-10 overall record and one of its most historic seasons in program history. Harvard reached as high as No. 12 in the CWPA poll, and the Crimson finished third at the CWPA Championship and advanced to the semifinals for the first time during Minnis’ tenure. Harvard downed three top-10 opponents on the season and six ranked opponents, both program firsts. Minnis was honored as the CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year for the second time and guided several members of the Crimson to postseason accolades. Anthony Ridgley was named CWPA Northern Division Rookie of the year, Ben Zepfel and Joey Colton earned nods on the first team, while Noah Harrison, Dan Stevens and Colin Woolway were named to the second team.

The women's team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons yet in its sixth season under Minnis, finishing the year at 24-10, recording the first back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in program history. The Crimson checked in at No. 13 in the CWPA rankings from March 23 – April 6 for its highest ranking ever, while also marking a program first with nine wins against top-25 teams this season. The Crimson defeated the No. 13 ranked opponent twice, downing its highest ranked opponent in program history. Yoshi Andersen and Cleo Harrington earned CWPA Division I/II first team all-conference honors, while Melissa Balding was tabbed to the second team.

The women's program was strong in his fifth season going 20-13, the most wins since 2004. For the team’s performance throughout the 2015 season, coach Minnis was named the CWPA Division I/II Coach of the Year, the first such honor obtained by a Harvard women's water polo coach. The 20 wins put Minnis atop the all-time wins list at 87 wins in just five seasons. The Crimson also had four players earn All-CWPA Division I/II honors, including Yoshi Andersen earning a first team nod.

Coach Minnis also led the men’s program to a 22-10 overall record, its best finish under his tenure and the most wins since 2000. For the first time, Harvard went undefeated on its annual California road trip, going 5-0 including an upset victory over then-No. 16 Whittier. The Crimson finished second at the CWPA Northern Division Championship for the second consecutive season, after upsetting then-No. 17 St. Francis and narrowly falling to, the eventual Northern and Eastern champions, Brown in the championship game. Harvard’s strong season earned them numerous accolades. Sophomore Joey Colton was named the CWPA Northern Player of the Year and freshman Colin Chiapello was named the CWPA Northern Rookie of the Year, junior Ben Zepfel was named to the CWPA All-Northern first team for the second consecutive season, while sophomore Blake Lee and junior Collin Woolway were named to the CWPA All-Northern second team.

In his fourth season at the helm, both programs continued to grow crossing the double-digit wins mark for a fourth consecutive season. The men finished the season 18-14 and took second place at the CWPA Northern Championship. Coach Minnis was named 2013 CWPA Coach of the Year along with three players earning All-CWPA Northern Division honors, led by Ben Zepfel being named to the first team. The women's side earned 15 wins in its fourth season under coach Minnis and took fourth place at the CWPA Northern Championships. Melissa Balding was named the 2014 Rookie of the Year, becoming the first ever women's player to earn that honor. She was joined by Yoshi Andersen who earn first team honors and Shayna Price who was named to the season team.

In 2012-13, Minnis directed both programs to double-digit wins and berths in the CWPA Eastern Championships. The men’s team finished fourth at the CWPA Northern Division Championships, its highest finish since 2007, on its way to a seventh-place finish at Easterns. The men’s team also performed well out of the pool, as 13 Crimson were named CWPA Student-Athletes for the second consecutive season.

The 2013 season saw Minnis direct the women’s program to its longest win streak, eight games, since water polo became an NCAA sport in 2001. Harvard ended the year 18-16 to give itself three consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2000-02. The squad also went on to place sixth at the Eastern Championships, tied for the fifth-best finish in program history. Aisha Price ’13 (first team), Ariel Dukes ’15 (second team) and Yoshi Andersen ’16 (second team) were all named to the CWPA All-Southern Division team.

On the women’s side, Harvard completed its second straight winning season (17-12) in 2012 and won four out of five regular season Southern Division contests. The squad, which finished in seventh place at the CWPA Eastern Championships, had one of the biggest wins in recent years, as it took down No. 20 Hartwick, 12-11, on Senior Night. Six Crimson players won a combined 10 Player of the Week awards while Devan Kennifer ’12 (first team) and Elise Molnar ’13 (second team) were named All-Southern Division.

In his first season as a collegiate head coach and first year in charge of the Crimson, Minnis showed immediate success. The men's squad won its most games (12) in three seasons and matched its CWPA Northern Division Championship finish (fifth) from the previous year. The men's team also finished third at the Ivy Championships and boasted 13 CWPA Scholar-Athletes and ACWPC All-Academic award winners.

The women's team was also instantly successful during Minnis' first season. The Crimson women logged 17 victories, its most wins in six years, and its first above .500 record since 2005. The team had two CWPA Southern Division All-Conference players in Devan Kennifer ’12 and Monica Zdrojewski ’12 and had five different players earn CWPA Southern Division Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week or Rookie of the Week honors during the season.

Minnis, who has competed and coached at the youth, club and high school level, came to Cambridge after serving as the interim director of athletics, aquatics director and head water polo and swim coach as Castilleja School in Palo Alto, Calif.

Minnis is a veteran coach at the Stanford Club. During his 10-plus years of service, he won two Junior Olympic bronze medals, a U.S. Club Championship and finished among the top 10 at various national tournaments numerous times. Minnis served as the head coach for the Olympic Development Program Pacific Zone for three years and in 2009 worked with the National Youth team staff. Most recently, his teams picked up a pair of silver medals at the 16 and Under Olympic Development Regional Championship and Zone Championship.

In 2007, Minnis was named the USA Water Polo Development Coach of the Year and in 2005 and 2007 was a Positive Coaching Alliance finalist for coach of the year.