Krikorian named U.S. water polo coach

Adam Krikorian, who has won 10 National Collegiate Championships in water polo as head coach at UCLA, has been named head coach of USA Women’s National Team.
This is against the norm, but I thought it was worth it. Below is the full release from UCLA:


ADAM KRIKORIAN NAMED HEAD COACH OF
USA WOMEN’S WATER POLO NATIONAL TEAM;
CHAMPIONSHIP COACH WILL REMAIN ON
UCLA MEN’S COACHING STAFF

Adam Krikorian, who has won 10 National Collegiate Championships in water polo as head coach at UCLA, has been named head coach of USA Women’s National Team.
Krikorian, 34, will remain on the coaching staff of the UCLA men’s water polo team. He will assume National Team duties following the women’s collegiate season but will remain affiliated with UCLA’s water polo programs through June 30.
“I would like to thank the UCLA administration for allowing me the opportunity to coach the USA Women’s Water Polo Team and to remain here at UCLA,” said Krikorian. “Over the last 17 years, I have experienced some of the best and most rewarding moments of my life here at UCLA. I am excited about the opportunity to be able to add to those moments with the men’s program and yet create a new set of experiences with USA Water Polo.
“I would also like to thank all the past and present women’s players and coaches that I have been so fortunate to work with or coach over the last decade. I can honestly say that I have learned something from every one of them, and they have all had a hand in developing my skills as a teacher, coach, motivator, and mentor. There is no question I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. As it’s always been understood here, no one person is bigger than this program. I look forward to watching the UCLA women’s water polo program continue to flourish in the future.”
Krikorian has served as head coach of the women’s program since the 1999 season. In that first season, he shared the head coaching duties with Guy Baker, recently named Director of Olympic Development after guiding the USA women’s team to three consecutive Olympic Medals.
In the 10 women’s water polo seasons prior to the current year, Krikorian has compiled a record of 263-38 while winning six NCAA championships and one collegiate championship. The Bruins are currently the four-time defending NCAA champions and compiled a record of 123-6 during that four-year span. In 10 seasons as head coach of the men’s program (two as co-head coach with Baker), he has compiled a record of 192-62 and has won three NCAA titles.

Krikorian has been named National Coach of the Year on six occasions – five times for women (2001, 2005-08) and once (2004) for men.

Krikorian has spent his entire career at UCLA. A four-year water polo letter-winner under coach Baker, he helped lead UCLA to the 1995 NCAA championship as the team’s senior captain. It was UCLA’s first men’s water polo title in 23 years.

He served as an undergraduate student assistant for both the men’s and women’s programs in 1996-97 while earning a degree in psychology with an emphasis in business administration. He then became a fulltime assistant for both programs, serving in that capacity until being named co-head coach of the women’s program in 1999 and co-head coach of the men’s program prior to the 1999 season. UCLA won three National Championships (two women’s, one men’s) while he was an assistant coach.

Krikorian is married Anicia Mendez, a four-year Bruin letter-winner in varsity tennis who completed her MBA at UCLA. The Krikorians reside in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with their son, Jack (born July 2006).