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Michigan's Matt Anderson Tabbed to Coach at USA Water Polo Speedo Top 40
LOS ALAMITOS,
Calif. -- University of Michigan water
polo head coach Matt Anderson has been named one
of four coaches for the 2009 Speedo Top 40, U.S. National Team head
coach Adam Krikorian announced on Tuesday, October 13. Anderson
will be at the helm of Team Electric Beat during the three-day
event that runs from October 23-25 at the USA Water Polo National
Training Center.
"We are very pleased to have Coach Anderson as one of four
experienced and well respected coaches to lead our Top 40 teams,"
Krikorian said. "The makeup of our teams is based on region and
each one of the coaches will represent their region well. All four
personify the high quality of coaches that are in our country and
will be great leaders for our athletes."
"I am very excited for this opportunity. We stress here at
Michigan that not only do we want to compete to be best in the
nation but to try and follow the opportunities to make National and
Olympic teams," Anderson said. "Fortunately, we have been able to
compete successfully in both collegiately and in getting players to
the Olympic level and into the national pipeline."
Among the players on Anderson's squad are current Wolverines
senior Leah Robertson (Newport Beach, Calif./Newport
Harbor) and freshman Kiki Golden (Danville,
Calif./Monte Vista) and former Wolverine and U.S. National
Team goalkeeper Betsey Armstrong (2002-05). The
13-player roster boasts three Olympians, three members of the
Senior 'B' team and a pair of Junior National Team members.
"I have devoted a lot of time to U.S. Water Polo, especially over
the last 10 years on men's side, so to have an opportunity for a
weekend to work with athletes of the best women's program in world,
and to have a chance to coach Betsey (Armstrong) again and to have
Leah (Robertson) and Kiki (Golden) and Jill Stapf, who played club
for me, will be personally satisfying. It is going to be fun to get
to interact with not only the top athletes in the country but in
the world," Anderson added.
Anderson owns a 203-81 record as he enters his eighth season at
the helm for the Maize and Blue. He has been named Collegiate Water
Polo Association Coach of the Year three times and has guided the
Wolverines to seven division and three conference titles during his
tenure. Anderson is one of just four coaches in school history to
lead a women's team to 200 victories and the lone male in the
group.
In additions to his duties at Michigan, Anderson also currently
serves as an assistant coach with the Men's Youth National
Team.
The four teams participating -- Psychedelic Swirls, Electric Beat,
Sonic Surf and Fluid Flight -- will compete in a round-robin style
tournament while being evaluated by USA National team staff.
Players will be vying for selections to the Senior "A", Senior "B",
Junior and Youth teams.
USA Water Polo Coverage
• 2009 Speedo Top 40 Coaches Selected
Release courtesy University of Michigan Athletic
Communications
