BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Indiana University assistant coach Taylor Dodson earned a spot as a Team Leader on the United States women’s water polo roster for the World University Games held in Taipei next month.
She will serve on the staff of head coach Dan Klatt (University of California-Irvine head coach) along with Team USA assistant coaches Serela Kay (University of California-Santa Barbara head coach/former University of Hawaii, University of Maryland, Princeton University, University of California assistant coach) and Caitlin Haskell (current Fresno State University/former University of Michigan assistant coach).
Named an assistant coach at Indiana earlier this month after spending the prior two seasons on Chris Radmonovich‘s staff at Wagner College, she will hope to continue her recent success with Team USA.
In Dodson’s first year as Wagner’s director of operations, the Seahawks won their third consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Championship to enter the field for the 2016 NCAA Championship.
Last season, Dodson became the Seahawks’ assistant coach and mirrored the triumph of the year before. Wagner became the first program to win four consecutive MAAC water polo titles and earned a trip to the final weekend after securing their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, 6-5, over the University of California-San Diego.
Whilst at Wagner, Dodson was instrumental in helping recruit for Wagner’s first men’s varsity water polo team in school history. The team debuted as a Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) member during the 2016 fall season.
Dodson played one professional season for Club Water Polo Dos Hermanas outside of Sevilla, Spain following an outstanding collegiate career at the University of California, Berkeley. Donning the co-captain’s cap her senior year, Dodson guided Cal to a silver medal at the 2011 NCAA Championships, topping a bronze finish in the year prior.
Currently Dodson is coaching for the renowned Saddleback El Toro Water Polo Club (SET) in El Toro, California, coaching at the 16U level. In addition, Dodson is assisting with coaching duties for her alma mater, Laguna Beach High School.
Dodson, a Laguna Beach, California native, graduated in 2013 from the University of California-Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Media Studies. She completed her Masters in Business Administration (MBA) while serving on staff at Wagner.
The 13-player Team USA women’s water polo roster begins competition on August 19 against France. Team USA will also take on Argentina, Australia, Italy and Greece in group play.
The 29th Summer World University Games will be held in Taipei, August 19-30, with over 120 countries competing in 22 sports. The World University Games are held every other year and are organized by the International University Sports Federation. The event is a multi-sport competition open to men and women between the ages of 17 and 24, and who have been, within the past year, a student at a college or university.
For more information on the World University Games, visit the official WUG USA website or the official Taipei site.
2017 World University Games Women’s Schedule
August 18 vs. France 10:20 p.m. Eastern
August 21 vs. Argentina 3:40 a.m. Eastern
August 22 vs. Australia 5:00 a.m. Eastern
August 24 vs. Italy 5:00 a.m. Eastern
August 25 vs. Greece 3:00 a.m. Eastern
August 26 vs. TBD
August 28 vs. TBD
August 29 vs. TBD (Finals)
