May 25, 2017 Huntington Beach, CA - May 25 - University of the Pacific Men's Water Polo Head Coach James Graham (USA Men) and UC-Irvine Women's Water Polo Head Coach Dan Klatt (USA Women) have been named head coaches to lead Team USA at the 2017 World University Games this August 19-30 in Taipei, Taiwan. In a change from recent competitions that saw collegiate champions represent the United States, in 2017 USA Water Polo National Teams will be selected to compete with rosters announced at a later date featuring many top current and recently graduated college athletes.
The two head coaches bring a host of experience and success. Klatt, fresh off leading UC-Irvine to a Big West Championship and NCAA Tournament berth guides the USA Women. In 2012 and 2016 Klatt was an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic Women's Water Polo Team helping the squad to consecutive gold medals and has been involved in the USA Water Polo ODP pipeline as a coach for many years. Klatt also represented Team USA as a member of the Men's National Team and took part in the 2004 Olympic Games.
"World University Games is one of the few tournaments that replicates the Olympic environment. It is an incredible opportunity for our players to gain valuable experience. I am honored to have this opportunity to represent USA Water Polo and showcase the talent our collegiate system produces," said Klatt.
Graham heads to Taipei leading the USA Men after taking the Pacific Tigers Women's Water Polo Team to their first NCAA Championship Tournament after winning their first Golden Coast Conference title. Also the men's coach at Pacific, Graham has built the Tigers into one of the top teams in men's college water polo reaching the NCAA title game in 2015 and becoming a perennial contender for post-season competition. An innovator in water polo analytics, Graham has previously assisted Team USA in multiple capacities including video analysis.
"I am extremely honored and excited to represent United States Water Polo at the World University Games. I want to thank Dejan Udovicic and
John Abdou for giving me this amazing opportunity and my athletic director,Ted Leland, for allowing me the time to coach this team. This has always been a dream of mine to use what has made us successful at UOP with some of the very best collegiate players on an international stage," said Graham.
The draw for the tournament was announced earlier this month with the USA Men drawn into Group D alongside Japan, Russia and Romania. The USA Women were drawn into Group B alongside Australia, Argentina, France, Italy, and Greece.
For more information on the World University Games,
click here.
