Guy Baker

Given the chance, Guy Baker would play for himself. Sounds strange, sure, but the coach of the U.S. women's national water polo team, with his reputation for tough practices and poolside pacing, says it's true. "If I was playing I would want to play for me," Baker said. "You know it would be difficult, and it would be hard, but I know that when we get to the competition ... we're going to be prepared. We're going to be ready."

LONDON - Adam Krikorian wondered more than once whether becoming coach of the U.S. women's water polo team was a good career move. The former UCLA player and coach took over in March 2009, less than two weeks before the team was to leave for the world championships. He got a wary reception from a group that had long been coached by Guy Baker, who became an administrator before leaving the U.S. program. "When we first started in 2009 we were a disaster. We were torn apart," Krikorian said.

UCLA water polo coach Guy Baker has been named an assistant coach of the U.S. national team.

Bill Barnett didn't expect to be chosen to coach the U.S. women's Olympic water polo team after Guy Baker vacated the job to take over the men's team. "Actually, when it first opened up, I didn't give it much thought," Barnett said, "but I was encouraged by several fellow coaches to apply." Intrigued by the challenge of coaching at the national level after a long absence, the Laguna Beach resident made his pitch.

Guy Baker, a former assistant coach at Cal State Long Beach, has been hired as coach of UCLA's reinstated water polo team. The school had decided to drop the sport, but it was revived after alumni and boosters promised to finance it. With Baker, the 49ers won two conference championships and made the NCAA tournament field three times.

Guy Baker, who engineered a quick rise by the U.S. women's water polo team on the international sports scene, will try to achieve similar success with the U.S. men's squad. Baker, the U.S. women's coach since 1998 and a late entry into the field of candidates to succeed Ratko Rudic as the men's coach, on Wednesday was selected for the job over Ricardo Azevedo, men's national team assistant and Long Beach State head men's and women's coach. Rudic left the U.S.

Bill Barnett didn't expect to be chosen to coach the U.S. women's Olympic water polo team after Guy Baker vacated the job to take over the men's team. "Actually, when it first opened up, I didn't give it much thought," Barnett said, "but I was encouraged by several fellow coaches to apply." Intrigued by the challenge of coaching at the national level after a long absence, the Laguna Beach resident made his pitch.

The Hackers, a club comprised of players from Huntington Beach and Long Beach, had won the Senior Women's national water polo championships six of the last seven years. It didn't seem likely, however, that they would be the 1985 champions. The Hackers, after all, weren't going to field a team this year because too many of its players had prior commitments. It wasn't until last Sunday that the women decided to compete at the nationals.

LONDON - Adam Krikorian wondered more than once whether becoming coach of the U.S. women's water polo team was a good career move. The former UCLA player and coach took over in March 2009, less than two weeks before the team was to leave for the world championships. He got a wary reception from a group that had long been coached by Guy Baker, who became an administrator before leaving the U.S. program. "When we first started in 2009 we were a disaster. We were torn apart," Krikorian said.

UCLA's Guy Baker was voted coach of the year by the American Water Polo Coaches Assn., and goalkeeper Dan Hackett and driver Oliver Will were selected as first-team All-Americans. The Bruins were 19-10 and upset Pepperdine in the NCAA semifinals before losing to California.

Guy Baker, who engineered a quick rise by the U.S. women's water polo team on the international sports scene, will try to achieve similar success with the U.S. men's squad. Baker, the U.S. women's coach since 1998 and a late entry into the field of candidates to succeed Ratko Rudic as the men's coach, on Wednesday was selected for the job over Ricardo Azevedo, men's national team assistant and Long Beach State head men's and women's coach. Rudic left the U.S.

Given the chance, Guy Baker would play for himself. Sounds strange, sure, but the coach of the U.S. women's national water polo team, with his reputation for tough practices and poolside pacing, says it's true. "If I was playing I would want to play for me," Baker said. "You know it would be difficult, and it would be hard, but I know that when we get to the competition ... we're going to be prepared. We're going to be ready."

UCLA water polo coach Guy Baker has been named an assistant coach of the U.S. national team.

Guy Baker, a former assistant coach at Cal State Long Beach, has been hired as coach of UCLA's reinstated water polo team. The school had decided to drop the sport, but it was revived after alumni and boosters promised to finance it. With Baker, the 49ers won two conference championships and made the NCAA tournament field three times.

The Hackers, a club comprised of players from Huntington Beach and Long Beach, had won the Senior Women's national water polo championships six of the last seven years. It didn't seem likely, however, that they would be the 1985 champions. The Hackers, after all, weren't going to field a team this year because too many of its players had prior commitments. It wasn't until last Sunday that the women decided to compete at the nationals.

Jim Toring, a former UCLA and Harvard-Westlake High water polo star, is in a coma at a Paris hospital after being struck by a bus while competing in a tournament for the U.S. national team. Toring's blood pressure, pulse and breathing were stable Wednesday, a spokesperson for the U.S. team said. Doctors have performed surgery to drain fluid from his skull and relieve pressure from cranial swelling.

Jim Toring, a former UCLA and Harvard-Westlake High water polo player, died Monday at a hospital in Clichy, France, one week after being struck by a bus on a Paris street. He was 23. Toring never regained consciousness after suffering a severe head injury in an accident on April 13. He was walking with other members of the U.S. national team when he stepped from behind a parked bus and into the path of an oncoming bus. He was reportedly thrown about 30 feet.