Elite Polo is excited to introduce our first, weeklong water polo camp.  This August at the University of the Pacific, Elite Polo will be hosting a four-day, comprehensive camp that will prepare any water polo athlete for the upcoming 2010 season!  For individuals looking to improve their personal skills to teams focusing on streamlining their summer training, our Elite Polo staff will provide the experience and expertise you are looking for.  We will staff this camp one coach to each 10 campers, guaranteeing a personal experience for everyone that comes out this summer!

This weeklong camp will take place entirely on the campus of the University of the Pacific.  Campers will spend the week with our staff in the dorms, dining halls and most importantly, the pool. The Chris Kjeldsen Pool Complex is one of the best in California, with recent renovations bringing about even greater improvements on the deck and in the water.  This will be a fantastic experience for everyone involved!

Elite Coaching Staff

MATT FLESHER

HEAD ASST. COACH, UC BERKELEY GOLDEN BEARS

HEAD ASST. COACH, UCLA BRUINS, 2005-2009

5-TIME NCAA CHAMPION

3-TIME NCAA ALL-AMERICAN

Matt Flesher, a standout water polo player at UCLA who has been an assistant coach for both the Bruins' men's and women's water polo programs the past four years, is the new head assistant coach for the Cal women's water polo team.

This past Flesher helped guide the UCLA women to their fifth consecutive NCAA title with a 5-4 victory over No. 1 seed USC. In his three seasons working with the Bruin women, UCLA compiled a 93-8 record, including a perfect 33-0 mark in 2008. During Flesher's time assisting the Bruins, two players were the recipients of the Peter J. Cutino Award (named after the legendary Cal men's water polo coach) as the national player of the year, 17 players were named All-Americans and 21 athletes were selected All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

In assisting the UCLA men's water polo program, Flesher helped the Bruins to a 75-29 mark from 2005-08, coaching 19 players who were selected All-American and All-MPSF. In 2006, he was the head coach of the Los Angeles Water Polo Club's 16-Under boy's team that won the U.S. Water Polo National Championship.

As a collegiate player from 1999-2002, Flesher was a member of UCL

Prior to coaching at UCLA, Flesher spent three seasons as a member of the U.S. National Team, competing at the 2003 World University Games and helping Team USA qualify for the 2005 World Championships. He also competed professionally for the Greek team, Ethnikos-Pireaus, in 2003 and 2004. Flesher was the head boy's swimming coach and assistant boy's water polo coach at Corona Del Mar High School in 2004-05 as well.

JAMES GRAHAM

HEAD COACH, UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC

2009 PACIFIC TIGERS - NO. 14 IN NCAA DIVISION I RANKINGS

James is in his second season as head coach at University of the Pacific. James will continue to build on a Tiger program which has consistently been a force in the college ranks. The 2007 squad finished the year ranked No. 13 in the nation, while the 2006 Tigers finished with a record of 19-14 and a No. 7 national ranking. Since 2001, Pacific has produced 13 All-Americans and 16 all-conference student athletes.

From 2005-07, James served as the assistant coach for the United States National Youth Team, and recently traveled to Europe with the USA Men's Senior National Team as a part of their staff for the World Super Finals. James has been the head coach for the National 2-Meter Development Camp and Holiday Camp held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Col., over the past three years.

Prior to Pacific, Graham spent the past five seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College, building the Bear Cubs into a state power at the JC level. He led Santa Rosa JC to a record of 86-50-1 over his five years, including a third place finish at the California State Championships in 2007. The third place finish was the highest in school history, coming on the heels of a Big 8 Conference championship. For his efforts in 2007, he was named Big 8 Conference Coach of the Year. He won the same award in 2006, in addition to Northern California Coach of the Year honors, after leading the Bear Cubs to the Northern California championship.

SAM BAILEY

HEAD ASST. COACH, STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 2005-2006

ASST. COACH, UCLA BRUINS, 2007-2008

2-TIME NCAA CHAMPION

Sam Bailey has just completed his second season as an assistant coach on the UCLA water polo coaching staff. Bailey, who also served as an assistant with the women's water polo team, returned to his alma mater in the fall of 2007 after having been a part of two NCAA championship teams (1996, 1999) while at UCLA.

Bailey served as head assistant coach on the Stanford men's water polo staff in 2005-2006.

The former Bruin was the head coach of the boys' water polo team at Corona del Mar High School in 2004, when he earned CIF Coach of the Year honors.  While at Corona del Mar, current UCLA head assistant coach and former UCLA teammate Matt Flesher worked with Bailey as an assistant coach.  Bailey also served as an assistant coach of the girls' water polo team at Corona del Mar High School from 2002-2004.

KRSTO SBUTEGA

2008 PETE CUTINO AWARD FINALIST

2008 1ST-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN

3-TIME ALL-AMERICAN

CURRENT MEMBER, MONTENEGRO NATIONAL TEAM

5TH ALL-TIME, SCORING, UCLA

Krsto Sbutega has just completed a career at UCLA that will forever cement his place as one of the Bruin greats.  Sbutega was prolific around the cage in his four-year career as he scored 143 goals, placing him 5th all-time in the UCLA record books.  For his efforts as a senior, Krsto was named 1st Team All-America by the ACWPC.  Furthermore, Krsto's efforts rewarded him with a trip to the Olympic Club last June as he was one of three candidates up for the Pete Cutino Award, which is presented each year to the nation's best water polo player.

Sbutega scored no less than 30 goals in each of his last three seasons.  In 2008, Krsto netted a team high of 50 goals, making him the first Bruin since Brett Ormsby (2004 US Olympian) to score 50 or more goals in a season. 

Slight in stature (6 feet tall), Krsto's ability to score at the Division I and international level is a direct result of his concentration on shooting.  His ability to manipulate defenses and goalies has been proven in any scenario:  front court, isloation, counter attack, 6-on-5, bad angle and penalty shots.  We are excited for Krsto to be a part of the Elite Polo staff this summer and know his experience and skill will enhance that of any player.