VILLANOVA, PA. — Villanova University Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Jackson announced that Michael Gordon has been named head coach of the Villanova women’s water program. Gordon joined the Wildcats’ program in 2018 and has served as an assistant for the past five seasons.
“After a national search led by Senior Associate Athletic Director Lisa Harris and supported by Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Tighe, Senior Associate Athletic Director Allison Venella and Assistant Athletic Director Leashia Lewis, we are incredibly excited to announce Michael Gordon as our new head women’s water polo coach,” said Jackson. “As a proud Villanova alum with extensive water polo experience at all levels, Michael is someone who has been intimately involved in the program for the last few years. He is determined and impassioned to bring a new vision and new energy to the team as he establishes a new culture for the program in line with the mission of Villanova University.”
Since the 2019 season, Gordon helped the Wildcats earn four All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) honors, in addition to helping guide numerous players to MAAC Weekly Award accolades. Gordon also played a part in the program’s first All-American selection with Kaysie Stuba receiving the plaudit for her efforts during the 2022 campaign. The 2022 season saw Villanova tally the second-most wins in program history with a 20-15 record, including a 9-7 mark in conference action.
Three teams in his time as an assistant have reset the program’s single season record for goals, assists, points, field blocks and sprint wins. The 2022 squad alone set a new standard for the program with a record 415 goals, 277 assists and 692 points. That year, the team attempted 1,044 shots, a threshold that has only been seen three times in program history. Each of the last two seasons saw the Wildcats bring a fury on the offensive side, totaling 2,049 shot attempts.
“I am honored and thrilled to be named the head coach of this great group of Wildcats,” said Gordon. “Villanova has long been a big part of my life and it is where my love for the game of water polo flourished. I would like to thank Mark Jackson, Lisa Harris and the entire selection committee for entrusting me with leading this team to success.”
Gordon is no stranger to the Villanova culture and Augustinian mission. He is a 2006 graduate of Villanova where he was a two-time All-America selection as a member of the men’s collegiate club water polo team for Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Commissioner/Villanova head coach Dan Sharadin. After graduating, he turned his attention to coaching, first at Miramar College in San Diego, Calif., where he was an assistant from 2008-2010. In 2011, he stayed in the San Diego area and moved to the high school ranks where he became the head coach at Serra High School.
Aside from coaching, Gordon has also had his hand in officiating the sport of water polo. He has been an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) official since 2008, working multiple conference championship tournaments for the CWPA and Western Water Polo Association (WWPA).
In July 2019, he assumed responsibility as the CWPA’s Collegiate Club assignor. In his role, he was responsible for the assignment of all CWPA men’s and women’s club events in both league and non-league competition; ensuring communications from the league’s Coordinator of Officials are disseminated appropriately; weekly communications with the Head Officials regarding their responsibilities; and weekly communications with all club officials. Further, he aided in the recruitment/development of collegiate club level officials around the country.
The seventh head women’s water polo coach at Villanova – and third alumnus – following Lilah Al-Masri ’97 (1998), Allyson Gillespie (1999-2003), Paige Cull (2004-2005), Damon Newman (2006-2015), Jason Grubb (2016), Rob Mida ’07 (2017-2018) and Larry Sanders (2019-2023), Gordon is the fourth collegiate club athlete to hold the position of head women’s water polo coach at Villanova joining fellow Wildcats’ Al-Masri and Mida along with prior West Chester University athlete Grubb.
Information courtesy Villanova University Athletics Communications
