LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) women’s water polo head coach Adam Wrighthas hired Christopher Lee as an assistant coach.
Lee, who most recently served in the same role with the University of California in 2017 and 2018, brings nearly two decades of high-level coaching experience to the Bruins. He fills the position vacated by Dustin Litvak, who was named head men’s water polo coach at Princeton University in June. Lee joins Kodi Hill on Wright’s staff.
“We are very fortunate to add a coach the caliber of Chris Lee to our women’s water polo program,” said Wright. “His experiences, both on the collegiate and international levels, will undoubtedly help to enhance our culture and positively impact the growth and development of our players.”
Over five years and two stints at Cal, Lee helped the Golden Bears to four National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Water Polo Championships semifinal-round appearances. Individually, players from those teams accounted for 43 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Academic Awards and 31 All-America nods.
A veteran of the Southern California water polo scene, Lee guided the men’s and women’s teams at Occidental College (2015, 2016) between stints with the Golden Bears. He also turned in three seasons each with the Pomona-Pitzer College men’s (2009-2011) and women’s squads (2010-12), helping the Sagehens to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championships on both sides.
Lee entered the world of coaching at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000, when he took over the women’s collegiate club water polo team as an undergraduate student. Eight seasons (2000-04, 2005-08) later, the Quakers had claimed four Mid-Atlantic Division championships (including the program’s first in 2004) and made Lee the division’s Coach of the Year four times. For good measure, Lee took over the men’s side in 2006 and did not miss a beat, helping his alma mater to a Mid-Atlantic title in 2007 and earning Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007.
“I want to thank Adam and Kodi for welcoming me to the coaching staff here at UCLA,” said Lee. “I have so much respect for what they have accomplished, both as players and coaches at UCLA, as well as their careers with the (United States) national team.”
Also a veteran of international competition, Lee has served the United States Women’s Senior National Team since 2011 in various roles. As a video analyst, he operated at head coach Adam Krikorian’s right hand on the way to gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games and fulfilled the same duties at the FINA World Championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. Most recently, Lee worked as an assistant coach for the 2018 FINA World League Super Final gold medalists in Kunshan, China.
“I’m sad to be leaving Berkeley,” Lee added. “But I am excited for this incredible opportunity to work with this great group of student-athletes. I look forward to being a part of the rich history and tradition of UCLA Athletics.”
Lee has also overseen the growth of up-and-coming youth in the sport with the Olympic Development Program and as an assistant coach for the USA Women’s Cadet National Team (2011-15), which claimed gold at the 2015 Junior Pan American Games in Kingston, Jamaica.
“[Lee’s] reputation as a teacher is something that really excites me,” Wright added. “He will be a big asset in helping Kodi and I in our quest to get better every day.”
Release courtesy University of California-Los Angeles Athletics Communications
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