Adam Krikorian’s job is a lot harder than you think.
Even with five Olympians and a host of potential All-Americans
on his roster, the longtime UCLA women’s water polo coach has
to do more than throw the balls in the pool before practice, fill
out the starting lineup before each match, and sit back and watch
the carnage.
While every coach in the nation would trade rosters with
Krikorian in a heartbeat, boasting arguably the best collection of
talent ever assembled in collegiate water polo doesn’t come
without a few complications.
“Coaching this team is tough in ways I didn’t
necessarily expect,” Krikorian said.
Like keeping your team motivated for a game it knows it’s
going to win ““ which this year is every game. Or finding
playing time for all of your talented players. Or being
disappointed when winning by five goals.
Well, I guess that last one’s not so bad.
The entire water polo world is watching Krikorian and
UCLA’s every move, searching desperately for some sort of
unexpected chink in the armor. With that sort of attention comes a
new problem that Krikorian has rarely dealt with in the past
““ image control.
Monday, Krikorian suspended one of his regular starters,
Gabrielle Domanic, after she said ex-Foothill High School teammate
and current USC player Brittany Hayes was “along for the
ride” when they won four consecutive CIF championships.
While Domanic’s comments weren’t the right thing to
say, they weren’t really that bad either. Athletes across the
country spew much worse trash talk every day and go unpunished. The
difference, in this case, is that Krikorian has greater
expectations for his players.
“I hold my team and myself to a very high standard because
we’re UCLA and have the best water polo program in the
country,” Krikorian said.
“Our perception to our fans, team and water polo players
is very important.”
Image control is important when you’re on top ““ look
at the Yankees, the Lakers and Duke. Fans are always looking for a
way to bring them down, especially when those teams are good.
And this team is good.
Many have called this UCLA team the best collegiate water polo
team ever, and so far it has come close to living up to the
billing.
The top-ranked Bruins (16-0) have won by at least nine goals in
eight different games, and in only three games has UCLA’s
margin of victory been less than four.
“We try not to focus on the score but rather showing
people and ourselves what good water polo looks like,”
Krikorian said.
Sometimes, just being so much better than the other team creates
problems all by itself.
In the waning moments of Wednesday’s 14-4 victory over Cal
State Northridge, Krikorian had more on his mind than just securing
a victory.
Though he hasn’t been accused of running up the score so
far this season, Krikorian is very aware of the potential
accusation.
And when your team is always way ahead on the scoreboard, you
can expect different treatment from the officials.
“When the officials think you are 10-15 goals better than
the other team, things are called differently,” he said.
“It’s a different proposition to deal with.”
This may sound like sour grapes from a coach whose team is
undefeated, but he has numbers to back him up. In his seven years
coaching the UCLA men’s and women’s water polo team,
including six national championships, he has never had a team that
had more ejections than ejections earned. This year, his team has
been ejected almost three times as often as it has earned
ejections.
“It’s frustrating,” Krikorian said.
Yes, winning and winning easily can be frustrating.
But that is what happens when you coach a team with that much
talent ““ it’s a tough job.
Quiñonez knows all about having too much talent. E-mail
Quiñonez at gquinonez@media.ucla.edu.