Former United States national team women's water polo head coach, and current Director of Olympic Development for USA Water Polo, Guy Baker has been named the women's national team coach for Canada. Baker was a huge success in coaching the United States through three Olympics where he won silver in Sydney and Beijing, while taking home the bronze in Athens.
Prior to being a successful national team coach, Baker got his start coaching at the college level at Long Beach State and UCLA. At UCLA he coached both the men's and women's program and won four men's national titles and three on the women's side.
So, Canada knows they are getting a high quality coach.
The announcement came last week from Water Polo Canada's Executive Director, Ahmed El-Awadi:
"Guy is one of the most widely respected coaches in water polo," said El-Awadi from WPC's head office in Ottawa. "There is no other coach on the planet who has had more success in the women's game and we're absolutely thrilled that he's on board to lead our program into the next Olympic Games."
Here is what Baker is saying about his new coaching job:
"Canada has one of the richest traditions in the history of women's water polo and I passionately believe I am the right person to lead Canada to the Olympic podium," said Baker, who is expected to attend the women's water polo competition at this summer's London Olympics.
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"I'm so excited to have the opportunity to coach Canada's Senior National Team," he added. "I have been very impressed with the leadership, professionalism and organization of Water Polo Canada and I can't wait to get started with this group of talented, highly motivated athletes."
Canada lost in the quarterfinals in the Olympic qualifying tournament to Russia 7-6 and spiraled all the way to seventh place. Had Canada defeated Russia they would have qualified for the Olympics. With that tournament being played in Canada made not making the Olympics even more of a heartbreak.
The main goal for Baker should be first qualifying for the Olympics and then talk about making the medal stand later, but Baker is saying all the right things about wanting women's Canada water polo to earn a medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
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