Indiana Water Polo came into the spotlight before the start of the season after a conference change was announced. The team’s new membership in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) has brought the team to an entirely new level. The conference features the best teams in collegiate water polo. Filled with Olympians and NCAA champions, the conference presents one challenge after the other.

Head Coach Ryan Castle, Assistant Coach Emily Carr, and the entire Indiana Women’s Water Polo staff have their work cut out for them. This season has been deemed a rebuild year as the entire team will be returning next year. The young team shows signs of a bright future.

On July 15, 2016 Ryan Castle was named the head coach of Indiana Water Polo. Shortly after, on August 12, 2016 it was announced that Emily Carr would join the staff as an assistant coach. The duo has competed together at Indiana for three years now, but this is not their first time teaming up.

Emily Carr played at the University of Hawaii from 2012-2015. She was a starter for four years and captain for her junior and senior years. At Hawaii, she led the Rainbow Warriors to two Big West Championship titles and two NCAA Championship appearances. Carr recorded 84 goals, 67 assists, and 19 steals at the University of Hawaii.

It was during these four years that Carr and Castle first teamed up together.

Castle became an assistant coach for the University of Hawaii and coached Emily Carr during her time at Hawaii. Ryan Castle was a member of the staff for the Hawaii’s 2015 NCAA Championship appearance and Big West Tournament Championship.

Since this is not the first time Castle and Carr have teamed up, it is something the duo tries to use as an advantage. Castle recognized Carr’s ability to coach and has been able to incorporate her knowledge into the program. Carr gets in the pool with the players to not only coach from the pool deck. Her division one water polo experience is something she uses to better communicate with the team.

Castle and Carr are also able to communicate more easily with each other as Carr was able to experience Castle’s coaching first hand as an athlete. Their experience provides for an advantage both in and out of the pool. It also provides for some entertaining banter on the pool deck. Ryan Castle and Emily Carr are both from foreign countries. Castle is from Cape Town, South Africa and Carr is from Sydney, Australia.

South Africa and Australia are rivals – something Castle and Carr like to remind each other of whenever they get the chance.

The two coaches enjoy having fun on the pool deck as well as on road trips. It helps keep the environment healthy and enjoyable. It also adds to the culture Castle and Carr have developed here at Indiana University. They continue to build on it and strengthen it because they understand the importance of team culture.

As the team nears the end of the regular season, the squad has faced a multitude of challenges. The team has been repeatedly tested in the MPSF but one thing is certain: the chemistry and culture have only grown stronger – something that started with the bond between coach and assistant coach.