SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — Former Iona College standout Patrick Hudak returns to the collegiate pool deck as the former Gael joins the staff of Wittenberg University head women’s water polo coach Sivan Pardon.
“I am beyond thankful for being given this opportunity by the Wittenberg Athletics department, Director of Athletics & Recreation Brian Agler and coach Pardon,” noted Hudak. “It is truly exciting to be able to teach what I have learned over the years and help be a part of such a special program.”
A two-time state champion with St. Xavier High School and a native of Cincinnati, Hudak was named the 2016 Ohio State Player of the Year. A 2016 Fourth Team All-America selection, he was named a First Team All-Ohio selection twice (2015, 2016) in addition to claiming All-Beast of the East tournament (2015: Second Team; 2016: First Team) twice during his high school career.
A member of the Iona men’s water polo team during the 2017-to-2020 seasons, he was the Gaels’ leading scorer three of his four years. During his sophomore season in 2018, he earned All-Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Second Team status and garnered Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (AWPC) Honorable Mention All-America recognition. His final two seasons in 2019 and 2020 were cut short by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout his college career, Hudak served as an assistant coach for Moose Water Polo Club based in Cincinnati. He oversaw over 100 athletes over four years with the club. In 2019, he served as the head coach of the boys’ B-team for Moose at the United States Water Polo Junior Olympics and was an assistant coach for the A-team. He helped coach the Moose “A” team to the highest finish of any team In Ohio’s history at Junior Olympics.
Information courtesy Wittenberg University Athletics Communications
