Matt Flesher Position: Associate Head Coach Experience: Third Year

Matt Flesher, who in his first season as an assistant coach was instrumental in the California women's water polo program placing third at the 2010 NCAA Tournament before helping the Golden Bears to a national runner-up finish in 2011, was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2010 by Cal head coach Richard Corso.

"Matt is a great young coach and an excellent student of the game," said Corso, the 1996 USA men's Olympic coach who has directed Cal the past six seasons. "Those qualities, along with his performance this year made this promotion a win-win situation for our world-class program."

In arguably the two best seasons in Cal women's water polo history, the 2010 Bears (26-9) finished third in the nation after defeating Michigan, 12-8; falling to top-seed Stanford, 6-3; and defeating Loyola Marymount, 11-7, at the NCAA Tournament in San Diego. Cal's win against Michigan was their first NCAA tournament match in school history. In 2011, Cal defeated UC San Diego, 13-5, and UCLA, 7-4, before falling to top seeded Stanford, 9-5, in the national championship match. Prior to women's water polo being an NCAA sport, the Bears had competed in the National Collegiate Women's Water Polo Championship tournament from 1996-2000, finishing as national runners-up in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Flesher was a standout water polo player at UCLA and had been an assistant coach for both the Bruins' men's and women's water polo programs for four years prior to joining Cal's program.

As a collegiate player from 1999-2002, Flesher was a member of UCLA's back-to-back national champions in 1999 and 2000. He was a two-time All-American and was twice named All-MPSF, finishing his college career with 81 goals. Flesher earned his degree in political science from UCLA in 2002.

Along with his promotion to associate head coach of the Bears' women's water polo program, Flesher will also being attending Cal's Graduate School of Education beginning in the fall of 2010.

"Matt's commitment to matriculate to Cal also played a part in this position offer," said Corso. "He is an outstanding role model for our players, both in the pool and in the classroom."

Prior to coaching at UCLA, Flesher spent three seasons as a member of the U.S. National Team, competing at the 2003 World University Games and helping Team USA qualify for the 2005 World Championships. He also played professionally for the Greek team, Ethnikos-Pireaus, in 2003 and 2004. Flesher was the head boy's swimming coach and assistant boy's water polo coach at Corona Del Mar High School in 2004-05 as well.