Jan. 18, 2007

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - University of California men's water polo coach Kirk Everist was named USA Water Polo Elite Co-Coach of the Year, it was announced at USA Water Polo's Annual Meeting Jan. 13 in Salt Lake City. In addition to earning Co-Coach of the Year, Everist was selected as the Pacific Zone's Elite Men's Coach of the Year.

Under the direction of Everist, Cal finished the 2006 campaign 31-4, winning the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title with a 6-5 victory over USC in Irvine on Nov. 26. Then on Dec. 3 at Loyola Marymount University, the Golden Bears again upended the Trojans with a thrilling 7-6 win in the national title match on a last second shot by junior Jeff Tyrrell to give Cal its NCAA-record 12th national crown.

Earlier, Everist was named 2006 Division I Coach of the Year by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches. The No. 1-ranked Bears also had an impressive 10 players selected to the ACWPC All-America Team, and nine athletes were placed on the 2006 MPSF All-Academic team.