By Town Crier Staff Report

It would be hard to imagine Adam Krikorian’s first season as head coach of the University of California at Los Angeles women’s water polo team going any better than it did.

The Mountain View High graduate guided UCLA to an 18-4 record this season, which culminated with a 5-4 win over host Stanford in the NCAA championship game on May 13.

The Bruins’ four losses were to Stanford, which entered the NCAA final unbeaten (27-0).

UCLA’s Coralie Simmons scored the winning goal with 1:28 remaining in the game. This marked the second consecutive year the Bruins have captured the crown; they have won four titles over the past five years.

Krikorian has been involved in all of these championships, as he joined the UCLA coaching staff in 1996. He moved from assistant to co-head coach of both the men’s and women’s water polo teams in 1999.

When longtime coach Guy Baker left the school in January to become head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Senior Team, Krikorian took over sole control of both programs.

Prior to coaching at UCLA, Krikorian played water polo for the Bruins. As a senior in 1995, he helped the team win the NCAA championship.