U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — United States Air Force Academy water polo coach Ryan Brown announced the addition of Alan Huckins as the program’s assistant water polo coach. Huckins spent 15 seasons as the head coach of the Hartwick College women’s water polo team, prior to the program being discontinued after the 2018 season.
“We are extremely excited to have Alan as part of our water polo staff,” associate athletic director George Nelson said. “He brings a wealth of experience to the program and will be a great fit with our new head coach Ryan Brown. He has already hit the ground running and has spent a lot of time getting educated on our system overall. I know our players look forward to the season with our new staff in place.”
In 14 of his 15 seasons as head coach, Huckins led the team to 20 or more wins. He is one of the winningiest coaches in Division I water polo with an overall record at Hartwick of 396-173. Under his guidance, the Hawks qualified for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championships three times and captured three Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championships. He also coached four Olympians, Bronwen Knox (2008, 2012 and 2016), Sophie Smith (2012), Lisa Gibson (2012) and Marina Zablith (2016).
“I am excited to have Alan join the staff,” said head coach Ryan Brown. “With his wealth of water polo experience and knowledge, he will make an impact right away from the deck in practices and in games.”
A 1992 graduate of Slippery Rock University, Huckins is an experienced coach on the international, collegiate, high school and club levels.
A native of San Martin, Calif., Huckins served an assistant coach for the United States Women’s National Water Polo “A” Team from 1995-1998. He helped guide the team to a sixth-place finish at the FINA World Championships in January of 1998 in Perth, Australia. Huckins also worked as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National “B” Team from 1993-1995.
A three-time All-America water polo player at Slippery Rock, Huckins has served on the Women’s Water Polo Top 20 National Poll Committee (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2003-2018).
Information courtesy United States Air Force Academy Athletics Communications
