Coach of the Year

I have always loved the game of water polo. I have always been a student of the game.  I was told even as a young player that I was always one play ahead. That I controlled the pace of the game. That I did a good job directing my teammates. These are all traits that I translated into coaching.

I never coached for the glory. In coaching the SDSU Club Water Polo team I did it for multiple reasons. Mostly I love the game and had really missed it. 

While coaching with the help of my sister Brooke we noticed right away a lack of female coaches.  I think in our division there is maybe one other team with a female coach. Well you all know that I am competitive so I will be honest Brooke and I wanted to do nothing more than show them up. It was obvious  some of these coaches thought playing us would be a walk in the park. They missed the memo of who was coaching. Always great fun to make adjustments during the game that they had no idea how to overcome. 

When we played at Nationals it was much the same. Very few female coaches. Maybe two other teams.  During the tournament I was asked by a few coaches for tips, scouting reports. One coach even asked me to explain different plays I had run because they had never seen it before. I took all of this as a compliment. But it also made me realize just how much many coaches have no clue about.

I told you this because I was extremely honored a few days ago when I was named by the College Water Polo Association and the Pacific Coast Division as Coach of the Year. I found out via facebook like all things- a girl I played with in high school Sharon Dyer who plays for UCI’s club team congratulated me. She was so sweet saying how I deserved it. I was proud to say I nominated her for 1^st team and she was selected and receiving a great honor as well.

Receiving the coach of the year honor was a first for me. I have never received any type of honor like this before. It was also the first time in the club programs history to receive coach of the year, MVP of the league, a player on 1^st team, and two players on 2^nd team. Basically all of this was a program first. I was also honored to receive multiple nominations for Coach of the Year for the entire College Water Polo Association. 

I didn’t coach for the glory and it’s not like I got a ton for being named coach of the year. The school did not even recognize the team making it to nationals. But it sure feels good to get some recognition for the girls and myself. Honestly just feels damn good to beat out the boys. Water polo is no longer a man’s game- watch out the Vessey sisters are coming!!!

Here is the article: http://collegiatewaterpolo.org/news/2011-12/052112ClubWomenAllConference