April 8, 2005

BERKELEY, CA - Former California water polo All-American and two-time Olympian (1996, 2000) Gavin Arroyo has signed on as an assistant coach with the United States Men's National Water Polo Team, USA Water Polo announced Mar. 23.

Arroyo enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Cal, where he was a two-time All-American and helped the Golden Bears to three consecutive NCAA titles from 1990-92. Arroyo returned to Berkeley in 2003 as an assistant coach to 1996 Olympic teammate and Cal head coach, Kirk Everist.

Arroyo joins another former Olympic teammate, Kyle Kopp, on the U.S. coaching staff that is at the World Championships Qualification Tournament, Apr. 11-18, in Mexico City, Mexico. Arroyo is in Mexico with two current Cal players, sophomores John Mann and Marty Matthies, and former Bear standout Spencer Dornin (1998-01).

Arroyo spent seven years playing professionally in Spain for clubs Barceloneta and Barcelona and in Greece for Olympiakos and Vouliagmeni before returning to Cal to assist Everist.

Recently appointed men's National Team coach and High Performance Director, Guy Baker, hopes Arroyo's strong international background will help Team USA.

"He is very well respected internationally," said Baker. "I think that will bode well for our team."

In addition to a solid background in the international game, Baker hopes Arroyo will contribute immediately to the coaching staff.

"Gavin will bring a number of things to the team. First, he will work closely with our defenders. That was the position he played and he will bring valuable experience there. Second, he works really well with technical skills like shot blocking, so I think in that aspect, he will be very beneficial."

Arroyo agrees that emphasizing the basics will help the U.S. game.

"I learned a lot of fundamentals in Europe," said Arroyo. "I learned things when I was 28 that I wish I had learned when I was 13. A lot of our players aren't as fundamentally sound as Europeans right now."

For Arroyo, this opportunity is a second chance to pursue his goals.

"It's a dream come true," said Arroyo. "The two Olympics I played in, we got sixth and seventh place, and not medaling has been a huge void in my life. I have the opportunity to get these guys a medal. Being a part of the coaching staff is another chance. It's a great honor."

Arroyo is also enthusiastic to get to work alongside Baker.

"We each have strengths that will complement each other," said Arroyo. He hopes those strengths will lead the U.S. to the medal podium that has long eluded him.

"We'll be bringing home some hardware," he said.

Arroyo currently lives in San Francisco with his wife, Erene.