Huntington Beach, CA - December 27 - USA Water Polo mourns the loss of legendary water polo coach Bill Barnett. Barnett served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympic Men's Water Polo Team at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games winning silver in 1988. He added to that a gold medal at the FINA World Cup in 1991 during a decorated run with Team USA. A water polo coach at Newport Harbor High School from 1966-2015, Barnett piled up 15 CIF Southern Section Championships (10 boys, 5 girls) while mentoring a host of athletes that went on to compete at the collegiate, national team and international levels. He was also an important piece of the club scene in Orange County, California, spending many years as a club coach in Newport Beach.
A 2000 inductee into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, Barnett also has a USA Water Polo annual award named in his honor for distinguished coaching at the scholastic level in men's water polo.
"Bill Barnett was a giant among American coaches, methodically building a 49-year career in high school and international water polo that made everyone around him better," said Christopher Ramsey, USA Water Polo CEO. "He coached our men's Olympic teams at two Games, winning a silver medal in 1988 and also earning a gold medal at the FINA Cup in 1991. Just as importantly, he understood the value of club water polo, and athletes he helped develop on his Newport USAWP club helped stock our men's and women's national team program for decades. Bill was a class act, and he will forever occupy a distinguished chapter in USA Water Polo history."
"I am saddened by the news of Coach Barnett's passing," said four-time Olympian Terry Schroeder who played for Barnett at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics. "He was instrumental in my life as a coach and a mentor. He was my coach from 1985-1992 and I will always respect and appreciate what he did for me. Water Polo has lost one of its greats!"
"RIP Coach Bill. Thank you for giving me the chance and always having my back. I/we enjoyed the ride, I cherish the memories and the momentous events that we shared together for a decade," added three-time Olympian Craig Wilson who played for Barnett at the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games.
Barnett will be remembered tomorrow evening with a moment of silence prior to the USA Men's National Team match against Italy at Foothill High School at 7pm pt. Our thoughts are with the Barnett family and their friends during this difficult time.
