Support Harvard Water Polo

Harvard Water Polo has been a large part of the lives of many Harvard students. Recently, however, the program has had problems with instability. This has been the result of many factors, including financial irresponsibility, poor recruiting, and frequent coaching changes.

Despite a hiring process that did not conclude until immediately before the beginning of the season, Coach Russell took many steps to stabilize the problems facing the team and to build the foundation of a strong program.

Coach Russell has restored recruiting by making it a top priority and spending countless hours contacting and pursuing players.

Coach Russell has worked to establish Harvard Water Polo and the Harvard Athletic Department as a serious program in the eyes of recruits and others.

Coach Russell has fixed the funding mistakes and worked to make sure that the resources that Harvard spends on the Water Polo team are used for the needs of the team and the students that play on it. This comes on the heels of a financial debacle which resulted in student contributions being required to keep a Varsity level team afloat.

Coach Russell has broadened and strengthened the alumni/alumnae base by compiling a list of alumni, emailing a weekly game summary, and welcoming alumni back to campus for the end of season banquet and first-ever alumni game.

Coach Russell has worked to fix the planning mistakes that left the Mens team with an abbreviated season this year due to his late hiring.

Coach Russell has displayed honesty and candor in his dealings with players.

Coach Russell has always acted as a positive role model.

The hiring of Coach Russell was a great step towards stabilizing the Harvard Water Polo program. We hope that the athletic department will not turn this strong stride forward into a giant leap backward.