Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics
MALIBU, Calif. – With the win against Bucknell, Pepperdine head coach Terry Schroeder earned his 500th career win at the helm of the Pepperdine men’s water polo program.
He posted a record of 340-220 (.607) in his first 20 seasons as head coach and is now 500-343 (.593) in the midst of his 31st season. Per the available Collegiate Water Polo Association record books, Schroeder is only the seventh coach in men’s collegiate water polo history to reach this milestone. He joins the likes of Pete Cutino, Ted Newland, Mike Schofield, Dante Dettamanti, Denny Harper and Jovan Vavic.
Schroeder was inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 2013, the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2005, the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Pepperdine Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985.
In his first 20-year term (1986-2005) as Pepperdine’s head coach, Schroeder became one of the top collegiate water polo coaches in the nation. After coaching the USA squad to the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and again leading the Americans at the 2012 Games, he cemented himself as one of the most iconic coaches in the world.
During Schroeder’s first stint as Pepperdine’s head coach, he led the Waves to their first-ever national championship in 1997.
The 1997 squad went 25-3 (.893) and posted the best winning percentage in school history. The campaign ended with an 8-7 overtime win over local rival USC in the NCAA title game, held at the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatics Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Not only was Schroeder the 1997 National Coach of the Year, he also earned conference coach of the year honors five times (Golden Coast in 2016 and 2019, MPSF in 1997 and 1998, and Big West in 1989).
Schroeder led the Waves to a third-place NCAA finish in 1991, fourth-place in 1989 and fifth-place in 1987, 1990 and 1992. In 2019, he led the Waves back to the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1997 and reached the national semifinal.
Schroeder stepped down from his position as Pepperdine’s head coach to join the U.S. National Team for a stint after the 2005 season.
In the summer of 2012, Schroeder returned to Pepperdine as a volunteer assistant, and then took over in his second stint as the head coach on January 1, 2013.
As he began rebuilding the program with his return in 2013, Schroeder has found success, including the inaugural Golden Coast Conference Tournament championship in 2016. The Waves also won in 2019 to become the first school to win the tournament more than once.
Not only is Schroeder an incredible coach, he is also regarded as one of the world’s all-time outstanding players, he was the U.S. National Team’s captain from 1983-92 and was part of the team for 16 years. He was a four-time Olympian for the U.S. (including the boycotted 1980 Games), which won silver medals in 1984 and 1988 and placed fourth in 1992. He helped the U.S. win its first-ever major international competition in 1991, as the Americans captured the FINA Cup in Barcelona by beating longtime nemesis Yugoslavia in the title game.
TEAM USA — During his hiatus, the U.S. men’s water polo squad became one of the top stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics as he led a group that included Pepperdine alums Merrill Moses and Jesse Smith to the silver medal. His U.S. squad entered the Olympics ranked ninth in the world but the team won its group and defeated Serbia in the semifinals before falling to Hungary in the gold-medal game. He also coached the Americans at the 2012 London Olympics to an eighth-place finish.
Regarded as one of the world’s all-time outstanding players, Schroeder was the U.S. National Team’s captain from 1983-92 and was part of the team for 16 years. He was a four-time Olympian for the U.S. (including the boycotted 1980 Games), which won silver medals in 1984 and 1988 and placed fourth in 1992. He helped the U.S. win its first-ever major international competition in 1991, as the Americans captured the FINA Cup in Barcelona by beating longtime nemesis Yugoslavia in the title game.
QUOTES:
Dr. Steve Potts, Pepperdine Director of Athletics: “Terry Schroeder is Pepperdine Men’s Water Polo. Terry has gone from being the greatest player in our water polo history to the greatest coach as well. He has served as an amazing role model for so many young men during his exceptional coaching career and continues to do so. We are fortunate that Terry has given so much of himself to Pepperdine University and our water polo team and deserves our hearty congratulations on achieving his 500th win.”
Dr. Marv Dunphy, Pepperdine men’s volleyball head coach emeritus: “Wow 500, well done! I admire all of the good you have done for the young people whose lives you have touched and what you have meant to your sport. I will always cherish your friendship and my time with you at Pepperdine and at the Olympic Games. You are simply the Best!”
FORMER PLAYERS
Conrad Macedo (1990-94): “I’m really excited for Coach Schroeder to hit such a milestone in his coaching career. Playing for Terry was an incredible experience. I learned valuable life lessons in and out of the pool that made me the person I am today. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do for Pepperdine water polo.”
Alan Herrmann (1993-97): “Congratulations on an incredible career in Water Polo and for 500 WINS…WOW!!!! There is one win that I will never forget that happened on December 7th, 1997! I will be forever indebted and grateful for your coaching, mentorship, friendship, and most importantly for being a father figure at a time in my life when it was most important. Love you Schro!!”
Merrill Moses (1995-98): “Terry has had an amazing water polo career as a player and a coach! This is an amazing accomplishment to lead a team to 500 wins! His knowledge of the game and coaching style has impacted so many Pepperdine athletes to succeed in the water and outside in life! I had the honor to be coached by him in college and in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. I know I would not have been as successful in my career if I did not have him as my coach. I have learned so much from him as a player and now get the privilege to be coaching beside him and have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge from him as a coach.”
