BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Former St. Francis College Brooklyn standout and Queens College head water polo coach Or Gil remains actively involved in the sport of water polo as an entrepreneur and coach in Israel.
Since leaving Queens following the 2010-11 academic year when the men’s and women’s water polo programs were eliminated, Gil has been active in Israeli water polo.
The General Secretary/Head Coach of the Israeli women’s national team from September 2011-to-April 2013, he transitioned into a role as the Sport Facilities Manager at Kittbutz Givat Hayim Meucad from April 2013-to-April 2016. At Kittbutz Givat Hayim Meucad, he managed the facilities (gymnasium, tennis courts, basketball courts, pool) and was responsible for the yearly budget definition and evaluation of the staff, programs and facilities.
In May 2012 during his time at Kittbutz Givat Hayim Meucad, he became co-owner of Yordo Israel, an international corporation that specializes in water polo and swim apparel. Further, he is currently head water polo coach for Emek HaYarden Regional Countil in Emek HaYarden, Israel – a position he has held since December 2015.
A 2009 graduate of St. Francis Brooklyn with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Coaching, Gil joined Queens College in May 2009 and remained on staff until the elimination of the sport of water polo in May 2011.
The 2010 CWPA Northern Division Coach of the Year, his water polo career began with the Kibbutz Givat Hayim Swimming and Water Polo Club in Israel before moving onto the Israeli Junior and Senior national teams, playing in the European Championship Qualifications in 2000-2001.
While attending St. Francis, he competed for the men’s water polo and swimming teams all four years and helped the Terriers to a pair of runner-up (2004, 2007) marks and a championship (2005) finish at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Eastern Championship. A member of St. Francis Brooklyn’s 2005 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four team in water polo, Gil was also named team captainn of the swim team for the 2008-09 season and led the Terriers to a second place finish at the Northeast Conference championships.
