DAVIS, Calif. — Trent Calder, a 2008 All-America selection at the University of California and most recently the assistant coach at Brown University, returns to his home state to serve as the top aide to Daniel Leyson, the University of California-Davis’ Child And Meisel Families Director of Men’s Water Polo. Calder will assist in all aspects of the program, including recruiting and operations. His appointment begins in March.
Calder replaces Kevin Peat, the Aggies’ All-America goalie who later spent five years on the coaching staff, including each of Leyson’s first four seasons.
Originally from Chino Hills, California, Calder served three seasons at Brown as a director of operations, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2014, the Bears won their first Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship in 30 years and made their first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) postseason appearance since 1985. A year later, Brown won the Ivy Championship and went undefeated in league play for the first time in program history. Then in 2016, Calder helped guide the program to a 22-8 record.
In his three-year tenure with the Bears, six players earned Assocaition of Collegiate Water Polo Conference (ACWPC) All-America accolades, including two-time honoree Will Klein, who also garnered conference Player of the Year distinction.
As a collegiate student-athlete, Calder won back-to-back NCAA championships at California in 2006 and 2007. He served as the Golden Bears’ team captain in his final two seasons, and added All-America honorable mention as a senior. Calder scored 33 goals in each of his junior and senior years, adding a team-best 34 combined field blocks during that span. He subsequently played for the USA Senior National Team in 2009, representing his country at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia.
“Trent brings a high level of experience from his playing days, when he won two NCAA championships. He will bring that level of expectation to our program, which will be valuable,” said Leyson. “Then as a coach, he did an outstanding job elevating Brown as a program, both in his coaching and his recruiting. We’re looking forward to having him here. I think it’s another big step forward for our program.”
On the club scene, Calder coached with the Lamorinda Water Polo Club as an assistant for the boys 14-18 squads. Wit the 16’s he compiled a 44-0 regular-season record and won the gold medal at the 2011 Junior Olympics, Club Championships, and Kap7 Invitational. In 2012-13, Calder assumed the helm as the 18-and-under head coach, guiding the program to a bronze at the 2013 Junior Olympics.
Calder joins a UC-Davis program that enjoyed a historic season last fall. The Aggies posted a school-record 23 wins, won their first Western Water Polo Association title since 1997, and made their fifth all-time NCAA postseason appearance.
Release courtesy University of California-Davis Athletics Communications
