INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has named Amber Drury as men’s and women’s water polo national coordinator of officials. Drury has 25 years of officiating experience domestically and internationally, in addition to experience as a former NCAA student-athlete and head coach.
Matt Anderson, head men’s and women’s water polo coach at Connecticut College and the chair of the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee, said he is pleased with the selection.
“This is a great opportunity for collegiate water polo,” Anderson said. “Amber has coached and refereed at the highest level possible in the NCAA. Her expertise on both sides of the bench and knowing all levels of coaches and referees, past and present, will be a positive in the communication and education part moving forward within our sport.”
Natalie Benson, head women’s water polo coach at Fresno State University and the chair of the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Committee, also is happy with the selection.
“Amber brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will directly benefit the officials, coaches and student-athletes involved in NCAA water polo,” Benson said. “She understands the opportunities and challenges that our sport faces and has the ability to bring positive change to water polo. I look forward to working with her.”
Drury will replace Robert Corb, who is retiring from the position after 10 years of service to the NCAA. She will continue to develop the water polo officiating program in an effort to identify, train, educate and retain water polo officials across the country.
Drury, who will begin serving in the coordinator role this month after the 2019 NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship, added, “I am very excited to start this new chapter in my water polo career. I want to thank Dr. Bob Corb for his leadership during his tenure, and I am looking forward to working with the coaches, conference coordinators, evaluators and, of course, officials to continue to develop the best NCAA men’s and women’s water polo officials we can.”
Release courtesy National Collegiate Athletic Association
