Irvine, Calif. — Veteran water polo coach and University of Pennsylvania collegiate club alumnus Christopher Lee has been appointed Director of National Team Program Operations for USA Water Polo, the USA’s national governing body for the Olympic sport based in Irvine, California.
“Chris brings a wealth of tactical and operational experience to his new role,” said Christopher Ramsey, USAWP’s chief executive officer. “He understands what it takes to be successful on the pool deck, and what needs to happen behind the scenes to support athletes and teams. Chris loves the sport and is committed to supporting our national team programs and our broader goals of truly nationalizing our sport.”
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in computer science, Mr. Lee also holds a master’s degree from Penn in Architecture. A collegiate club water polo athlete at Penn, Lee entered the world of coaching at his alma mater in 2000, when he took over the women’s collegiate club water polo team as an undergraduate student. Eight seasons (2000-04, 2005-08) later, the Quakers had claimed four Mid-Atlantic Division championships (including the program’s first in 2004) and made Lee the division’s Coach of the Year four times. For good measure, Lee took over the men’s side in 2006 and did not miss a beat, helping his alma mater to a Mid-Atlantic title in 2007 and earning Coach of the Year honors in 2006 and 2007.
A veteran of the Southern California water polo scene, Lee guided the men’s and women’s teams at Occidental College (2015, 2016) between stints with the University of California (women’s water polo). He also turned in three seasons each with the Pomona-Pitzer College men’s (2009-2011) and women’s squads (2010-12), helping the Sagehens to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championships on both sides. Most recently, he served for a period as an assistant coach at the University of California-Los Angeles (women’s water polo, 2018-2021) and was also a head coach with Foothill Club Water Polo.
Lee has served in several part-time positions at USA Water Polo over the years, notably serving as videographer for the women’s national team since 2011. He has also served as team leader for the women’s national team, a coach for USA Water Polo’s national cadet and development women’s teams, as well as serving as a regional technical director for the federation’s Olympic Development Program (ODP).
In his new full-time role, Lee will report to the CEO and work directly with head national team coaches Adam Krikorian and Dejan Udovicic. In addition to national team administration and operations, Mr. Lee will be the point person for relations with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, World Aquatics and PanAm Aquatics. He will oversee USA Water Polo programs and initiatives in professional development and education, collegiate programs, and national team athlete support. He will also serve as a liaison and support for the federation’s ODP program, national pipeline teams, and the USA Water Polo Academy.
Chris Lee’s direct reports will be Christopher Bates/Men’s Sport Medicine Manager, Larnie Boquiren/Women’s Sport Medicine Manager, Ally Beck/Women’s National Team Operations Manager and Paulina Bui/Men’s National Team Operations Manager.
“First I’d like to thank Chris Ramsey and everyone here at USA Water Polo for the opportunity to join a team that has worked tirelessly to support the USA water polo community and our incredible national teams,” noted Lee.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have worn many different hats at USA Water Polo over the years and I’m excited to put that experience to work to support the greater water polo community. The success of the national teams has been a huge source of pride for me over the years and I can’t wait to get to work supporting all the national team athletes, coaches and staff members as both teams prepare for a busy year leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”
Information courtesy USA Water Polo
