Marissa Kerby
Staff Writer
Shaquille O’Neal was once named one of the toughest athletes in the world of sports. But imagine doing his job as you’re trying to say afloat in a pool of water as the opponent deviously wrestles you under the surface. It’s the sport of water polo—one of the toughest sports out there.
Terry Schroeder, Pepperdine University’s head water polo coach, has accomplished many things when it comes to this sport. He’s become a legend in the water as well as coaching the game from the sidelines. So what’s next for this water polo marvel? Schroeder has accepted the assistant coaching position for the U.S. Men’s National Water Polo Team and states that his expectations of the national team are very high.
Schroeder has been the Pepperdine head coach for 17 seasons, and is regarded as one of the world’s all-time outstanding water polo players. Under his coaching, the Waves have been a usual contender for the NCAA title, with Schroeder leading his teams to eight NCAA championships berths, and obtaining the program’s first-ever national title in 1997.
The Waves have seen remarkable success under Schroeder’s watchful eye, maintaining an average cumulative record of .612 winning percentage. Schroeder led Pepperdine to an incredible mark of 25 wins and 3 losses in one season with a percentage of .893 in 1997, the best single-season winning percentage in the program’s history.
“He’s a 4 time Olympian and the sole reason why I wanted to play for Pepperdine,” said Brian Whitlock, a senior on Pepperdine’s water polo team. “He’s really an inspiration to play for.”
Schroeder has coached four players that have earned first team All-America honors in U.S. water polo, and Schroeder, himself, was named “Coach of the Year” in 1997, the same year Pepperdine won its first-ever NCAA national title. He was also named the Big West Conference “Coach of the Year” in 1989, and has guided Pepperdine to five season league titles.
Schroeder was asked to join the U.S. national team as a sophomore in college. The four-time Olympian and former captain of the U.S. team, Schroeder led his team to finish second to Yugoslavia at both the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games. In the 1984 Games, he actually got to go back “home”—the Games were held in Pepperdine University’s own pool where Schroeder had played so many times before.
His team placed fourth at Barcelona in 1992, and in 1991 Schroeder helped the United States bring home a gold medal in water polo for the first time ever.
He was a respectable player—always staying in control of his actions and never losing his temper. At one point, he even needed 100 stitches after getting fouled in the game, yet he maintained his cool, letting his playing do the talking.
He has been inducted into the U.S. Water Polo “Hall of Fame” in credit to his many contributions to the sport, and has recently been inducted into the International Swimming “Hall of Fame”, as well as the Pepperdine Athletics “Hall of Fame” in 1985.
As the assistant coach for the U.S. men’s water polo team, he is reunited with two former Pepperdine water polo players: Merrill Moses and Jesse Smith. Moses is one of the world’s best and most exciting goal keepers in the game today. Although just a young rookie, Smith’s size and natural water polo instincts should keep him a key player on the team for years to come.
This past summer, the U.S. men’s water polo team earned the top group and division ranking for both preliminary and semifinal play in the FINA World League. Schroeder has said that the coaches are planning to put the United States back on the map of great water polo teams. The past couple years have been tough for the U.S., but the upcoming Olympics looks to be promising.
As a member of the U.S. National Water Polo team for 15 years, his knowledge of the sport has proven to be beneficial to his career as he goes to help coach the national team. His reputation as one of the world’s best water polo players and his quality of character will help him go far with his new team.
From playing as one of the country’s best college players, to playing on the national team, to coaching college, Terry Schroeder has taken his passion of the sport of water polo all over the world. Now, he’ll take the United States’ men’s team to also go far. He mentioned that “he would not have taken this position if [he] did not feel [they] could help to get [the team] back on the podium in 2008.”
Shaquille O’Neal may be tough…but Terry Schroeder sure could give him a run for his money.
Fact Box:
“USA water polo Hall of Fame member Terry Schroeder accepts men’s national team assistant coach position”, http://usawaterpolo.org
“Terry Schroeder—Profile”, www.pepperdine.edu/sports
Personal interview (through e-mailing) with Terry Schroeder
“2006 Men’s National Team Roster”, http://usawaterpolo.org
“US Water Polo Shoots for World Title”, usolympicteam.com, August 4, 2006
“Tips from the Top: He said/She said”, www.waterpoloplanet.com, volume 1: number 7, October 1, 2006
12-02-2006