Contributor Michael Randazzo got called up to the majors this week earning a New York Times feature story on Harvard and their ascendence to the top of East Coast water polo. The Crimson endured an overtime thriller against Bucknell, their first ever NCAA Championship tournament victory, to advance to play-in round two. They will face WWPA conference winners UC Davis on Thursday. If they win they will advance to the tournament semi-finals against top-seeded USC.
An African-American in a predominantly white sport, Minnis, a 47-year-old Californian, had never coached college water polo or even been east for any length of time before he took the Harvard job. His path to one of the East’s top positions featured two decades of youth, club and high school coaching, including 12 years at the Stanford Water Polo Club.
Head Coach Ted Minnis gets a heap of attention and Dr. Oz makes an appearance as well. More from the prodigious Michael Randazzo.