Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Water Polo...FAU's 18th Sport
2/11/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
April 3, 2002
BOCA RATON - Alan Huckins has been named Florida Atlantic University's head women's water polo coach. Huckins will join FAU's staff in July 2002 and the team will begin competition in the fall of 2003.
"Florida was once know as the Mecca for high school water polo," said Huckins. "California now claims that title, however, with the FHSA (Florida High School Association) sanctioning water polo it is only a matter of time before Florida is back on top. FAU adding water polo and being the only university in the state to offer it provides an unlimited potential for the program's growth. I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity and FAU is it."
FAU's aggressive growth has been evident in both the classroom and on the playing field. The university's enrollment has topped 25,000 students. Athletics added women's track in the Spring of 2001 and football in the Fall of 2001 and with the addition of water polo the university will offer 18 NCAA Division I varsity sports (10 women/8 men).
Adding water polo also demonstrates the university's administrative vision to incorporate the needs of the community and to maintain its reputation for outstanding equality between men and women.
"We are tremendously excited about the addition of women's water polo. The sports' growth, both at the state and national level, along with Florida's climate make it a perfect match for Florida Atlantic University and the Athletics Department," said Melissa Dawson, FAU's Associate AD and Senior Women's Administrator. "The addition of any sport brings a great deal of anticipation and excitement. We believe this is only heightened by the fact that we will be the first university in the state of Florida to sponsor women's water polo at the varsity level."
Huckins will assume the helm after serving the last four seasons as The College of Saint Rose's men's and women's swimming and diving coach. While he guided the NCAA II school to its first winning season and to eight school records, water polo is his first love. So much so that he also serves as the Adirondack Water Polo Club head coach and president, a position he has held since 1998.
The 1992 graduate of Slippery Rock University served as the co-head coach for SRU's men's and women's water polo teams from 1997-1998. He also served as the U.S. Women's National Water Polo Team assistant coach from 1995-98 and as the U.S. Women's National Water Polo "B" Team assistant. Both positions gave him international experience. From 1995-1997 he also served as the head coach for Beyer High School (California) swimming /diving and water polo and as the Modesto/Stanislaus Swim and Water Polo Club head coach.
Huckins began his coaching journey in the summer 1988 with the Morgan Hill Water Polo Club. Over the next six years, while attending college, he gained as much experience as he could coaching for Morgan Hill Water Polo Club (90-92), at Slippery Rock (88-93), at Lewisburg Community Pool (93-94), at Bucknell Swim School and at Bucknell University, where he served as head coach (93-94).
Awards and Accomplishments:
1999 & 00
Coach of the Empire State Games Scholastic Water Polo Team - Gold Medal
1998
Assistant Coach World Swimming Championships (water polo)
1997
Eastern (southern conference) Water Polo Coach of the Year (men)
1995
Recruited the entire class, at SRU, that won the 1995 National Collegiate Water Polo Championships
1993-94
Eastern Water Polo Coach of the Year (men and women)
1994
Coach Academic All-American Team, Bucknell University
1994
Head Coach U.S. Olympic Festival (women-East). - Silver Medal
1991-92
U.S. Senior National Water Polo All-American
1991
NCAA Water Polo Championship (Participant)
1989-91
All-East Water Polo Player
1989-91
Career Assist and Steals leader SRU
1989-91
Team Captain-SRU men's and women's water polo team
1989-91
Team Captain-SRU men's and women's swim team
1986-88
Senior National Qualifier - Swimming
1987
NCAA National Swim Qualifier in Relays
1984-86
Junior National Qualifier - Swimming
