ADAM KRIKORIAN
HEAD COACH, UCLA BRUINS. 13-TIME NCAA DIVISION I CHAMPION. 1995 ALL-AMERICAN
There may not be another head coach in any sport throughout the country who has accomplished more than Adam Krikorian in such a short span. In his 16 years with UCLA's water polo program as both a player and a coach, Krikorian has won an unprecedented 13 national titles - nine as a head coach, three as an assistant coach and one as a student-athlete.
As the men's water polo head coach, Krikorian has guided UCLA to three NCAA Championships and boasts a .767 winning percentage (155-47 record). Krikorian's men's water polo teams have won 80 percent of their conference matches and have finished with a perfect 8-0 MPSF record twice (1999 and 2004). In the spring of 2007, Krikorian guided the women's team to its third consecutive NCAA title and UCLA's 100th NCAA team championship. The 2007 women's water polo title marked Krikorian's fourth national championship since the start of the 2004-05 school year.
Krikorian led the men's team back to the top of the rankings in 2004. He guided the Bruins to their first perfect conference finish since 1999 and first NCAA title since winning back-to-back championships in 1999 and 2000. The 2004 squad also rattled off an 18-game winning streak, which included capturing the Nor Cal Tournament title and gaining multiple victories over the nation's other three top-ranked teams - Stanford, California and USC.
As a senior captain in 1995, Krikorian helped lead UCLA to its first men's water polo national championship since 1972. Krikorian scored two goals in the Bruins' 10-8 win over California in the NCAA championship game. During his senior season, he registered a team-best 31 goals, including one two-pointer, while earning All-America second-team honors and All-MPSF second-team accolades. A four-year letterman, Krikorian captained the team in 1994 and 1995, leading the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons. He finished his Bruin career with 76 goals, including a pair of two-pointers.
BRANDON BROOKS
ASST. COACH, UCLA BRUINS. 2004 US OLYMPIC GOALKEEPER. 3-TIME ALL-AMERICAN
Brandon Brooks is in his third season as an assistant coach on the UCLA water polo staff. As an assistant coach, Brooks focuses his efforts on the development of goalkeepers and oversees their conditioning and strength training program.
Brooks, a three-time All-America selection at UCLA and a former Olympic goalkeeper, helped lead the Bruins to national titles in 1999 and 2000 as UCLA's goalkeeper, all while becoming UCLA's all-time saves leader with 700 stops.
In the summer of 2004, Brooks competed for Team USA in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. One year earlier, the Honolulu, Hawaii, native provided stellar defense as goalkeeper for the U.S. National Team at the FINA World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Following the 2003 World Championships, Brooks manned the net at the Pan-American Games, where Team USA took the gold medal and ultimately qualified for the 2004 Olympics.
As a student-athlete at UCLA, Brooks led the Bruins to consecutive national championships in his first two seasons. During his second season in 2000, Brooks recorded 208 saves in 95 quarters and posted a school-best 4.80 goals against average, a mark which still ranks first today. The sophomore allowed just one goal in the first 25 minutes of UCLA's 11-2 NCAA title game victory over UC San Diego. His 208 saves that season currently stands at seventh-place all-time school history.
Coming off back-to-back national championships at the start of the 2001 season, Brooks led UCLA to a No. 5 final national ranking as a junior. His 5.96 goals against average that season stands as the fifth-best mark in school history. Brooks recorded 165 saves in 78 quarters as the Bruins finished the season 16-5.
As a senior at UCLA in 2002, Brooks made 227 saves in 79 quarters and recorded a 6.46 goals against average, which currently ranks ninth best in the school record book. The All-America selection guided the Bruins to a third-place finish in the MPSF Tournament. He also earned Alll-MPSF First Team accolades in 2002.
JACK KOCUR
HEAD COACH, PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY. 1997 NCAA CHAMPION. 1997 1ST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Jack Kocur, a former Pepperdine All-American and member of its 1997 national championship team, is in his second season as the head coach of the Waves’ men’s water polo program, but his first after having the interim label lifted.
Kocur trained with the U.S. National Team for six years on a consistent basis after graduating from Pepperdine. During his tenure with the national team, Kocur competed in more than 125 international games. He helped the American squad win the 1998 U.S. Open and finish fourth at the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1999 French Open.
He was one of four Pepperdine players to be named an All-American first teamer in 1997 as the Waves rolled to a 25-3 record and defeated local rival USC by a final score of 8-7 in overtime in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to claim the NCAA title. It marked the Waves’ first and only NCAA championship in the sport of water polo.
During his collegiate career at Pepperdine, Kocur tallied 138 goals and set the school record with 28 two-point goals. He was an All-American third team selection as a sophomore in 1994 and an honorable mention choice during his junior campaign in 1995.
Pepperdine posted a cumulative 67-38 (.638) record during Kocur’s collegiate career, and the Waves rolled to a perfect 8-0 mark in Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) play during the 1997 campaign.
Kocur was a member of the U.S. Junior National Team from 1989-93, and helped the American squad win the gold medal at the 1989 Junior Pan American Games in Mexico and claim first place at the 1993 Canadian Open.
MIKE SCHOFIELD
HEAD COACH, US NAVAL ACADEMY. SEVEN EASTERN CHAMPIONSHIPS. 12 NCAA APPEARANCES
Mike Schofield is in his 23rd season at the helm of the Navy water polo program. Under his direction, the Mids have won seven Eastern Championships and competed in 12 NCAA Tournaments. Fifteen Navy athletes have earned All-America honors under Schofield.
Last year's team was one for the record books as Navy amassed a 24-7 record and won the program's seventh Eastern Championship. The 24 wins kept a remarkably consistent streak in tact, as the Navy water polo program has won at least 19 games in all 25 years since the program's resurrection in 1982. The 24 wins were tied for the seventh most in school history and Navy went 19-1 against teams from the East. The Mids also won 14 games in a row from Sept. 27 to Nov. 12, the fourth-longest streak in school history. Schofield has had a long line of All-American athletes under his guidance.
Last season, Aaron Recko and George Naughton received third-team and honorable mention accolades, respectively, running the All-American total to 21. It marked the eighth straight year that a Navy water polo player was named All-American, beginning with Jason Pace (HM) in 1999. Sean Foster (2nd) and Nick Hill (HM) followed up Pace's honor in 2000. Hill was named honorable mention twice more in 2001 and 2002. In 2003, Joe Donahue was a third-team selection. Following Donahue, Patrick Rollo and Alex Ratcliffe were third-team selections in 2004 and 2005.
Schofield is well recognized in the water polo community, having also coached on the international level, guiding the U.S. Water Polo Team at the 1997 World University Games to a fifth-place finish. He also served as an assistant for the 1992 National Team and as an assistant for the U.S. Water Polo Team that won gold medals at the World University Games in both 1991 and 1993.
In 1982, Schofield arrived in Annapolis and assisted in resurrecting a water polo program that had been dormant for 32 years. He took over the head coaching duties in 1985, and his teams have enjoyed 15 20-plus win seasons, playing to an overall record of 464-184-1. Schofield has been named Eastern Coach of the Year seven times including last season (1982, 1984, 1986, 1990, 2000, 2003, 2006). In 2004, Schofield added National Coach of the Year to his resume, and in March of 2004 was inducted into the United States Water Polo Hall of Fame.
MATT FLESHER
ASST. COACH, UCLA BRUINS. 3-TIME NCAA CHAMPION. 3-TIME ALL-AMERICAN
Matt Flesher is in his third season serving as an assistant coach on the UCLA men's water polo staff. Flesher, a three-time All-America selection at UCLA from 1999-2002, helped guide the Bruins to a 38-14 mark in his first two years on the coaching staff.
In his four-year career as a Bruin, Flesher led UCLA to back-to-back national championships (1999 and 2000), was twice honored as an All-MPSF athlete and finished his collegiate career with 81 goals scored.
Prior to returning to Westwood in 2005, Flesher kept busy within the international water polo ranks. He spent three seasons as a full-time member of the U.S. National Team in 2002, 2003 and 2005 and also competed for professional Greek team Ethnikos-Pireaus in 2003 and 2004. While with the National Team, Flesher competed in the World University Games in 2003 and helped guide the United States to its qualification for the Water Polo World Championships in 2005.
Flesher enjoyed his finest playing season at UCLA as a sophomore in 2000, tallying a career-high 32 goals while adding 14 assists and 16 steals. During that campaign, which earned Flesher honorable mention All-America status, he helped lead UCLA to its second consecutive national title. In 1999 as a newcomer to Westwood, the Diamond Bar native added eight goals to UCLA's 22-3 national championship team. Flesher earned third-team All-America status as a junior in 2001 after pouring in 24 goals. As a senior in 2002, Flesher was again awarded third-team All-America honors after notching 17 goals and serving as UCLA's emotional leader and co-captain.
MIKE MARONEY
HEAD COACH, UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC
Mike Maroney is in his fifth season as the head coach of the Pacific men's water polo team this year. Over the last seven seasons as a collegiate coach, he has led his teams to an overall record of 119-100, including a records of 19-14 in 2006. The former Pacific team captain and star player returned to the Tigers as a head coach in 2003.
Since 2001 Maroney has coached 13 All-Americans and 16 all-conference student athletes. In 2006 the Tigers finished the season ranked No. 7 in the final CWPA Top-20 Poll. Last year's squad also finished the season in fifth place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF).
Maroney has a long history of successful development in water polo. Before starting his trek back to Pacific, Maroney started Hartwick College's women's water polo program in Oneona, New York. In the team’s first year, 2001, he led the Hawks to an amazing 20-14 record. In just his third year, the Hawks finished with a 28-9 record, had a final ranking of 13th in the national poll, and the Hawks were one goal away from going to the NCAA Final Four. For those accomplishments, Maroney was twice honored as Northern Division Coach of the Year.
Maroney's ability to build successful water polo programs didn't start at Hartwick College. Back in 1994, he started the Pacific Tigers women's water polo club, which finished fifth in the nation that year at the club level. He coached the women for two years, while also serving as a graduate assistant coach for men's swimming and men's water polo both seasons.
Among his other coaching achievements, Maroney was an assistant coach for the National Junior Water Polo Team from 1996-99. He also served as the Southwest head zone coach for the men's and women's junior teams and was Northeast head zone coach for the women's senior team.
JOHN ZEIGLER
HEAD COACH, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
John Zeigler, a 1991 Bucknell graduate, has guided both the men's and women's water polo programs at Bucknell since 2000. The 2007 campaign will mark his eighth in his second stint as the head coach of the men's team.
In his career as the head mentor of the men's program, Zeigler has compiled 114 wins, while taking his team to the Eastern Championship every season.
Facing one of the most challenging schedules in the country, Zeigler has led the Bison to records of better than .500 two of the last three years. He also guided them to a No. 18 national ranking at the conclusion of the 2006 season, which featured a schedule littered with 15 ranked opponents. Bucknell was able to win 15 games against the demanding slate, marking the third-most during Zeigler's tenure. The 2004 campaign marked a renaissance of sorts for the Bison as they posted a 17-14 record against a challenging schedule that featured 16 nationally ranked foes.
As a member of the Bison men's water polo team at Bucknell from 1987-90, Zeigler was a two-year starter and four-year letterman. He finished third on the team in scoring as a senior with 30 goals and 34 assists, and recorded career totals of 82 goals and 89 assists. Zeigler also won the 1990 Scott Schulte Award, which is presented annually to "the individual who contributes most to Bucknell water polo."
In 2004, Zeigler began serving on three prestigious committees. He serves on the NCAA Division I Men's Championship Committee, the NCAA Men's and Women's Rules Committees and the Collegiate Water Polo Association Board of Directors. The CWPA Board of Directors serves as the governing body for the conference, making all decisions in accordance to the by-laws already established. For 2007, Zeigler has been named Chair of both the Men's Championship and Rules Committees.
CARL QUIGLEY
HEAD COACH, ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
Upon Carl’s graduation from St Francis College in 1975 he was immediately hired as the water polo teams coach by St. Francis College. He began working as a part time coach the following fall in position that he has maintained throughout his career. In the midst of his 32nd year at the helm of the Terriers, Carl has built a national water polo power that continues to excel.
Most recently, Carl lead his St. Francis squad to an amazing fourth straight ECAC Championship, by knocking off Navy, 8-7, in Lewisburg, PA. The Terriers are currently ranked 11th in the nation, in front of west coast powers UC San Diego and University of the Pacific.
2006 marked another great year in Terrier water polo as Carl’s squad compiled a 22-5 record. Along with the aforementioned ECAC Championship, St. Francis captured the Northern Conference Championship before finishing 3rd at the Eastern Championships. Under Carl’s direction, two Terriers were named to the NCAA Division I All-American Team.
Since 2000, Carl’s efforts have resulted in four Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association Championships and three CWPA Northern Division Championships (2000, 2004, and 2005), a CWPA Eastern Championship in 2005 and an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championship Final Four this past fall. He has coached 14 All Americans here at the college and during that time and probably most importantly the men’s water polo team was academic national champion for four straight years 1998-2001 and has always been one of the top academic teams nationally.
He is currently serving on the NCAA Rules and Championship Committees as well as the Northeast Conference Swimming Committee and he has served as the President of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Board of Directors from 2001-2002.
TED BRESNAHAN
HEAD COACH, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Ted Bresnahan enters his 17th season as head coach of the Blue Jays water polo program. He is the winningest coach in the program's history with 219 wins in 16 seasons. Hopkins has become one of the premier Division III water polo teams in the nation under Bresnahan's tenure.
Bresnahan has guided Hopkins to 10 Division III Eastern Championships, including three straight in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He has coached 32 All-Americans and four CWPA Division III National Players of the Year, most recently Sean McCreery, who earned the honor in both 2005 and 2006.
The 2006 season saw the Blue Jays win their 10th overall and third consecutive Division III Eastern Championship as well as place fifth at the ECACs, fourth at the Southern Championships and a program best sixth place finish at the Eastern Championships.
Bresnahan earned Coach of the Year honors in 2005 after guiding Hopkins to a 24-6 record and the #1 national ranking in the season's final poll. The Blue Jays did not lose to a Division III school in their 30 games in 2005 while all six of their losses came to Division I schools ranked in the top-20 at some point during the season.
STEVE DOTEN
HEAD COACH, UC DAVIS
Steve Doten is in his seventh season at the helm of the UC Davis men's water polo program, having guided the Aggies to a third-place finish in the Western Water Polo Association in 2006. The team also posted six wins over top-10 programs during that season, climbing as high as No. 6 in the national poll - the highest ranking in Doten's Aggie career.
Additionally, his student-athletes enjoyed a parade of accolades. Veterans David Welch, Nick Arrigo and Mike McGee each earned ACWPC All-America honorable mention and claimed spots on the All-WWPA squad.
Other key seasons in Doten's UC Davis career include the 2002 campaign, in which the Aggies tied the school record with 19 wins. That team also posted 15 wins in the WWPA, the highest mark since 1990. In 2001, his first season at UC Davis, Doten was named the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year. He also guided two players, Travis Engelman and Tim Rogers, to first-team All-American status.
Prior to UC Davis, Doten was an assistant coach with the Cal women's water polo team from 1995-99. During this time, the Golden Bears finished second at the Collegiate Water Polo National Championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Doten also served as a coach for the Golden Bear Water Polo Club team. He helped lead the team to two USWP national championships in 1998 and 1999. Doten also coached two players who participated for the U.S. at both of the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.
As a player, Doten spent three seasons (1986-88) under legendary coaches Pete Cutino and Steve Heaston, helping Cal to a 91-14 record during that time and NCAA Championships in 1987 and '88. The Golden Bears were national runner-ups in 1986.
DAN LEYSON
ASST. COACH, 2004 US OLMPIC TEAM. 3-TIME ALL-AMERICAN. 4TH ALL-TIME, SCORING, USC TROJANS
After assisting for the USA National team in the 2004 Athens Olympics under the leadership the most successful coach in Olympic water polo history, Ratko Rudic, Dan Leyson has turned his focus on to heading up the AAF Rose Bowl Water Polo Club program.
Dan Leyson is in his second year as the full-time assistant coach with the men’s National Team program. Prior to coming on with Team USA, he was head coach at Loyola High School in Los Angeles (Calif.) and assistant coach for the men’s and women’s water polo programs at USC. In 1999, he helped coach the Club Natacio/Atletic Barceloneta 14-under team that placed second in Spain. Leyson, who played in Spain for three seasons (1995-1998), was a member of the U.S. National Team between 1993 and 1995.
Leyson directed and promoted the Olympic Water Polo Academy held at Los Alamitos in 2003 and 2004. His National Team duties include conditioning, coaching, refereeing scrimmages, scouting, and video analysis.
Dan Leyson is considered one of USC’s and collegiate water polo’s all-time great players. Dan was a 3-time All-American, being voted on the 1st Team in 1992. In just four short years, Dan netted 167 goals for the Trojans, placing him 4th best in USC history.
JACK BOWEN
While at Stanford University, Jack Bowen was a 2-time
All-American Goalkeeper and the 1994 NCAA Championships
Most Valuable Player, as well as earning Academic
All-American two years. Since Stanford, he has been a
five-time USA Water Polo All-American, MVP Of Mens' Senior
Outdoor Nationals (1997) and Indoor Nationals (1998) and
MVP at the 2005 US Water Polo Masters Nationals.
Bowen captained the National Junior Team from 1992-93 and
played on the U.S. National Team from 1994-1999. Then, in
2002, he served as the U.S. National Team Assistant Coach
under Ratko Rudich.
In Coach Jack Bowen's eight years at Menlo School he has
guided his squad to four CCS titles and three times as CCS
runner-ups during the years 2000-2007. In 2004 and 2007
Menlo won the Northern California Tournament and in 2007
they won the State Tournament. Bowen was named the CCS
All-Sport Honor Coach in 2006 and has amassed a career
coaching record of 218-45 (.829). For those eight years,
he has conducted "The Bowen Goalie Clinic" on a nationwide
scale.
|
|
