Wright Inducted Into USA Water Polo Hall of Fame
June 20, 2019 | Men's Water Polo, Women's Water Polo
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IRVINE, Calif. -- UCLA Head Men's and Women's Water Polo Coach Adam Wright was inducted into the 2019 USA Water Polo Hall of Fameย on June 7.ย The seven-member and 35th class features six Olympic-medal winning athletes alongside one of the most decorated college coaches in the game. Olympic Gold and Silver medalists Betsey Armstrong, Jessica Steffens, and Lauren Wenger join Olympic Silver medalists Ryan Bailey, Jeff Powers, and Wright as the athletes inducted this year. The six athletes are joined by six-time NCAA championship-winning head coach John Tanner of Stanford.
The seven inductees were recognized June 7 at the 2019 USA Water Polo Hall of Fame Luncheon at the DoubleTree Hilton Pleasanton in Pleasanton, Calif.
Wright has lived a life immersed in aquatics since his earliest years. Trained in swimming by Long Beach legend Klaus Barth, Wright gravitated toward water polo starring for prep power Long Beach Wilson.
From there it was off to UCLA where he balanced winning NCAA titles for the Bruins with a burgeoning career on the USA Water Polo National Team.
Wright made his Olympic debut in 2004, the first of three Olympiads in which he would compete for Team USA. A winner ofย threeย Pan American Games Gold Medals, Wright earned his biggest international achievement in 2008, claiming Olympic Silver in Beijing.
A multi-talented threat in the pool, Wright evolved from a volume scorer to deft facilitator who saw his skills in high demand both domestically and internationally. Prior to retiring after the 2012 Olympic Games, Wright competed for three club teams in Italy andย spent a yearย with Dynamo Moscow in Russia.
A repeat National Championship winner with the New York Athletic Club on home soil, Wright always had coaching in his sights. From part-time roles during his early playingย days at Long Beach Wilson High School to his status now as head coach of the UCLA Men's and Women's Water Polo Teams, Wright remains invested in the sport. Most recently Wright has guided the UCLA men toย threeย NCAA Championships in the last five years, elevating the Bruins to new heights.ย
About USA Water Poloย
USA Water Polo, Inc., is the national governing body for water polo in America, overseeing our United States Olympic program as well as 20 championship events annually, such as Junior Olympics and Masters National Championships. With more than 45,000 members, USAWP also is the sanctioning authority for more than 500 member clubs and more than 400 tournaments nationwide. USAWP is committed to the development of the sport throughout the U.S., fostering grass-roots expansion of the sport and providing a national system of affiliated clubs, certified coaches, and officials.