July 25, 2012

LOS ANGELES - Martin Matthies has been hired as the assistant coach for both the LMU men and women's water polo programs, returning to the pool where he helped the Cal Bears to the 2006 national championship at the Burns Aquatics Center.

Matthies, who was a three-time All-American for Cal and graduated in 2008 in Interdisciplinary Studies, will serve as the assistant coach to the men's program starting this August and will also assistant the women's program for its 2013 season this spring.

"I am really excited to be here because of the tradition of success that has been established over the last decade," said Matthies. "I am excited to not only be a part of that tradition, but to play a role in helping the program to make even further strides to become the nation's best."

Matthies comes to LMU after serving as the assistant coach to both the men's and women's programs at Bucknell. He also served as the Head Coach of the Olympic Development Program in the Southeast Zone. He took over that role after serving as an assistant in that same zone in 2011 and as the volunteer coach in the Coastal California Zone in 2010. In 2009 he was the volunteer assistant coach at Pepperdine and in 2007 he was the Lamorinda Water Polo Club Head Coach.

He joined Cal in 2003 and went on to earn All-American honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He was also a two-time All-MPSF selection. As a senior, he was a member of the Cal team that claimed the national championship over USC with a last second goal at the Burns Center.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Matthies was a member of the USA National Team from 2002-05 and 2009-10. He went on to play professional water polo in New Zealand (2009) and Brazil (2010).