Irvine, CA - April 11 - USA Water Polo mourns the loss of Hall of Famer and National Award namesake, Richard "Doc" Hunkler who passed away on April 9. The legendary coach, who guided the Slippery Rock University (PA) men's and women's water polo team for more than 20 years, claimed a national championship with the women in 1995. An inductee into the USA Water Polo, CWPA and Slippery Rock Halls of Fame, in 2010 USA Water Polo named a national award after Hunkler, honoring excellence in women's scholastic coaching.
Hunkler had success with a nationally ranked men's team at Slippery Rock, but what he did for women's water polo is probably his greatest achievement. A longtime advocate for the growth and expansion of women's water polo, in the 1970s he helped lead the push for women's water polo at the collegiate level, launching the Slippery Rock team. The squad began as a club team before transitioning to varsity and became one of the most successful teams ever east of the Mississippi.
In addition to the championship in 1995 (the first and only national title for an eastern team), he was named National Coach of the Year in 1993 and 1994, after two runner-up performances at the Collegiate National Championships. His efforts in women's water polo earned three National Coach of the Year awards as Slippery Rock became one of the most feared teams in the country in the 1990s. Three third place finishes at the national level between 1990 and 1992 preceded the success of the mid-90s as Hunkler built the program into an annual contender. He ended his career with a 102-42 record with the men's team over seven varsity seasons and a largely unblemished 142-11 record with the women's team over six varsity seasons.
While building the collegiate programs at Slippery Rock, Hunkler also held key positions on the national level. He was an assistant for the USA Women's National Team from 1982-1985 helping the squad to a second place finish at the World Cup. As a coach at the U.S. Olympic Festival, he became the only person to ever direct both a men's and women's squad in water polo to the gold medal. Again, those teams were the first from the east to capture the gold.
Off the pool deck he helped the game in any way possible; serving on the USA Water Polo Board of Directors, the women's international committee and the rules committee. His focus on growing and developing women's water polo is considered a key building block in the success the USA Women's National Team enjoys today.
Beloved by his former players and considered father figures to many, Hunkler impacted the lives of countless members in the water polo community. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.
Click here for more information on Hunkler's storied career courtesy of Slippery Rock Athletics.
