Adam Krikorian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Adam Krikorian |
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| Born | 22 July 1974 Santa Clara, California, U.S. |
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| Nationality |  United States |
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2009–
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United States women's national water polo team |
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Medal record
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| Last updated: 26 October 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Adam Krikorian (born July 22, 1974) is a famous American water polo coach. He is currently the head coach for the United States women's national water polo team. Under his leadership, the team has won gold medals at the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Olympic Games. He was even named the United States Olympic Committee's Coach of the Games in 2016. Before coaching the national team, he won 15 national championships at UCLA as a player, assistant coach, and head coach.
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About Adam Krikorian's Family
Adam Krikorian grew up in an Armenian-American family. He is the youngest son of Gary and Joyce Krikorian. His older brothers are Blake and Jason Krikorian, who started a company called Sling Media. Adam followed his brothers into sports. Blake also played water polo at UCLA, while Jason was a swimmer at Cal.
Sadly, Blake passed away just before the 2016 Olympics began. Adam went home for the funeral but returned to coach his team at the Olympics. Adam Krikorian is married to Anicia, and they have two children. They live in Manhattan Beach, California.
Adam Krikorian's High School and College Years
Adam was a talented water polo player and swimmer in high school. He went to Mountain View High School. In his senior year, he scored 113 goals and was recognized as one of the best players in the country. He also helped his team win a National Junior Olympic championship.
After high school, Adam played college water polo at UCLA. He helped UCLA win its first NCAA Championship in 23 years in 1995. During his time at UCLA (1992–1995), he scored 76 goals. He was named a second-team All-America player in 1995. He was also the captain of the UCLA team in 1994 and 1995. In 2016, he was honored by being added to the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.
Adam Krikorian's Coaching Career
Coaching in College
Adam Krikorian started his coaching journey at UCLA. He became an assistant coach for the men's water polo team in 1996. Then, in 1997, he also became an assistant coach for the women's team. Throughout his coaching career at UCLA, his teams won an amazing 15 national championships. He won 11 as a head coach, three as an assistant, and one as a player.
He was named the national men's water polo coach of the year in 2004. He also won the national women's water polo coach of the year award multiple times: in 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The women's team's championship in 2007 was very special. It was UCLA's 100th NCAA championship, making them the first school to reach this milestone!
In 2008, his women's team had a perfect season, winning all 33 of their games. This included winning the MPSF Championship and the NCAA Championship. They beat USC 6-3 to win the 2008 NCAA Women's Water Polo Championship.
Adam Krikorian has coached many talented players. Five of his players won the Peter J. Cutino Award. This award goes to the best male and female college water polo players each year. He was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year for the fifth time in a row in 2009.
Coaching for the USA National Team
Adam Krikorian became the head coach of the USA Women's Water Polo Team. In 2009, he led his team to a gold medal at the World Championships in Rome, Italy. They won by defeating Canada 6-5.
In 2011, Adam coached the team to another gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. Then, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, his team won the gold medal. They beat Spain 8–5 on August 9, 2012. This was the first Olympic gold medal ever for the USA women's water polo program!
On August 19, 2016, Krikorian led the team to their second straight Olympic gold medal. They defeated Italy 12-5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The American team has been very successful under his coaching. They won the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 World Championships, and several World League titles.
See also
In Spanish: Adam Krikorian para niños
- United States women's Olympic water polo team records and statistics
- List of Olympic champions in women's water polo
- List of world champions in women's water polo
