Krikorian Named All-Century Coach
May 17, 2016 | Women's Water Polo
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. โ Former UCLA head coach Adam Krikorian was named the Pac-12 Women's Water Polo Coach of the Century, the conference announced Monday night during Pac-12 Networks' flagship show, "Pac-12 Sports Report."ย
Joining Krikorian on the All-Century Team are six Bruin greats, including Kelly Rulon, Coralie Simmons, Courtney Mathewson, Natalie Golda, Robin Beauregard, and Nicolle Payne.
Krikorian has earned National Women's Water Polo Coach of the Year honors five times, in addition to National Men's Coach of the Year honors in 2004 after leading the UCLA men's program to its eighth overall NCAA championship. ย As the women's water polo head coach, Krikorian guided UCLA to eight national championships (seven NCAA titles), including a string of five consecutive titles, and collected a .867 winning percentage (288-44 record).
Krikorian led the Bruins to perfect 33-0 records in 2005 and 2008. ย Additionally, he piloted the men's program to three NCAA titles; two of the three came as he served as co-head coach with Guy Baker. ย In 2004-2005, he led both the men's and women's water polo teams to an NCAA title. ย
Since 2009, with Krikorian at the helm, Team USA has competed in 12 major FINA Championships and come away with gold in nine. ย Krikorian has 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.ย After leading Team USA to a 41-6 record, a year-end No. 1 FINA World Ranking, and an unprecedented sweep of all the major championships, Krikorian was named the Best Women's Coach in the World by the World Water Polo Coaches Association.ย ย
Two-time Olympic medalist Kelly Rulon (2003, 2005-07) earned her first gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, after winning bronze at the 2004 Olympics.ย Rulon helped lead UCLA to an NCAA Championship in each of her four seasons.ย Her 70-goal totals in each of her final three seasons are tied for third-most on the school's single-season scoring list.ย The former Bruin captured the 2007 Peter J. Cutino Award and was a three-time ACWPC first-team All-American.ย
Rulon helped lead the 2007 squad as the most offensive team in school history, averaging 14.0 goals per game. ย She was named Player of the Year and NCAA Tournament MVP in 2006 and 2007. ย ย The four-time NCAA All-Tournament selection holds the UCLA and NCAA records for Most Career Goals (237), and she ranks first on the career steals list with 181.ย
Four-time first-team All-American Coralie Simmons (1996-98, 2001) was a silver medalist at the 2000 Olympics.ย She was named the National Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998, while also earning MPSF Southern Division Player of the Year honors in 1997.ย A four-time NCAA All-Tournament selection, Simmons was named the NCAA Tournament MVP and received the Peter J. Cutino Award in 2001.ย Simmons ranks second in the single-season goals record list (74) and is second all-time at UCLA in career goals (235).ย Simmons was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. ย ย
The recipient of the 2008 Peter J. Cutino Award, Courtney Mathewson (2005-08) earned NCAA Division I Player of the Year honors in 2008 to extend UCLA's streak to four Player of the Year selections (Natalie Golda, 2005; Kelly Rulon, 2006 and 2007).ย Mathewson won a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics in London.ย She ranks sixth on the single-season steals record list with 53 and ranks ninth all-time at UCLA in steals with 114.ย An NCAA All-Tournament Team selection in 2007 and 2008, Mathewson finished her career at UCLA having scored 11 goals in NCAA Tournament action.ย She helped lead UCLA to the NCAA Championship in each of her four seasons.ย
USA Water Polo Hall of Fame member Natalie Golda (2001-03, 2005) is one of the best defenders to ever play for UCLA and the United States. ย An integral part of two Olympic medal-winning squads for Team USA at the 2004 (bronze) and 2008 (silver) Olympics, Golda powered the United States to three FINA World Championship medals (2003, 2005, 2007), including two golds.ย The 2003 FINA World Championship followed a 2001 FINA Junior World Championship title, both were firsts in program history.
In her four seasons at UCLA, three-time All-American Golda guided the Bruins to three NCAA championships.ย In 2005, Golda led UCLA to an undefeated season (33-0) and an NCAA crown while also earning the Peter J. Cutino Award.ย A three-time NCAA All-Tournament Team selection, Golda was the NCAA Tournament MVP and MPSF Player of the Year in 2005.ย
Two-time Olympic medalist and USA Water Polo Hall of Fame member Robin Beauregard (1998, 2001-03) won silver in 2000 and bronze in 2004. ย Beauregard balanced international acclaim with dominance on the collegiate level, lifting UCLA to three national championships while earning NCAA Tournament MVP honors in 2003. ย ย Beauregard was twice nominated for the Peter J. Cutino Award honoring the top player in the collegiate game.ย The four-time All-American and All-MPSF selection has been a participant in USA water polo at all levels between her competitive and coaching career, and has won championships at each level.ย ย
Four-time All-American Nicolle Payne (1995-98) helped lead the Bruins to three straight NCAA titles (1996-98) and was named the NCAA Tournament's Most Valuable Goalkeeper in 1996 and 1997.ย The 1998 NCAA Tournament MVP ranks first on the UCLA All-Time list with a 3.79 goals against average.ย Her 746 career saves ranks second all-time at UCLA, and her 225 saves in 1998 is tied for sixth on the single-season record list.ย The 1996 Player of the Year, Payne owns the top two spots on the single-season record for goals against averageโ2.77 in 1998 and 3.07 in 1996.ย The former Bruin was a three-time first-team All-American and earned second-team honors as a freshman.ย A UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame member, Payne played for Team USA in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, winning the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The All-Century Team was voted on by a panel of 24, consisting of coaches, players, administrators, and members of the media. ย Members were voted to the team based on their collegiate careers. ย Out of 51 nominees, the All-Century Team consists of 16 playersโeight drivers/attackers, six field/utility/center/2m, and two goaltenders.
Stanford led all schools with 7 players, followed by UCLA (6), USC (2), and California (1). Fifteen of the sixteen members of the team were Olympians, with a total of 26 Olympic medals won. Representing three different decades, team members have taken home thirty-three NCAA Championships.
Pac-12 All-Century Women's Water Polo Team
DRIVERS/ATTACKERS
Brenda Villa โ Stanford, 2001-03
Kelly Rulon โ UCLA, 2003, 2005-07
Maggie Steffens โ Stanford, 2013-15
Coralie Simmons โ UCLA, 1996-98, 2001
Kiley Neushul โ Stanford, 2012-15
Courtney Mathewson โ UCLA, 2005-08
Sofia Konoukh โ USC, 2001-03
Heather Petri โ California, 1997-99, 2001
FIELD/UTILITY/CENTER/2M
Kami Craig โ USC, 2006-07, 09-10
Ellen Estes โ Stanford, 1997-98, 2001-02
Natalie Golda โ UCLA, 2001-03, 2005
Robin Beauregard โ UCLA, 1998, 2001-03
Melissa Seidemann โ Stanford, 2009-11, 2013
Annika Dries โ Stanford, 2010-11, 2013-14
GOALTENDER
Jackie Frank โ Stanford, 2000-03
Nicolle Payne โ UCLA, 1995-98
COACH OF THE CENTURY
Adam Krikorian โ UCLA, 1999-09
PLAYER OF THE CENTURY
Brenda Villa โ Stanford, 2001-03