Indiana University head water polo coach Ryan Castle announced Wednesday the addition of Taylor Dodson to his coaching staff. Dodson, who spent the last two seasons on Chris Radmonovich’s staff at Wagner College, will join the Hoosiers as an assistant coach.
The addition stems from a recent proposal made to the NCAA regarding the increase of countable coaches in both men’s and women’s water polo. The rule, which will go into effect on August 1, will “enhance student-athlete safety during practice and enhance the student-athlete development by increasing coaching opportunities during practice.” As such, Dodson will join current assistant Emily Carr to make the Hoosiers’ first ever three-person coaching staff.
“Taylor quickly rose to the top of an extremely talented and experienced candidate pool,” Castle said after the announcement. “Apart from her wide range of playing and coaching experience, what set Taylor apart from her peers were her strong values and commitment to empowering the student athletes in her care. She is a natural leader who our athletes will look up to as a great role model. As a staff we are extremely excited to work with her and look forward to her joining us when the World University Games conclude.”
Castle and the Hoosiers found an excellent addition in this summer’s mad dash of teams acquiring a third coach. In Dodson’s first year as Wagner’s director of operations, the Seahawks won their third consecutive MAAC Championship to enter the field for the 2016 NCAA Championship.
Last season, Dodson became the Seahawks’ assistant coach and mirrored the triumph of the year before. Wagner became the first program to win four consecutive MAAC water polo titles and earned a trip to the final weekend after securing their first-ever NCAA Tournament win, 6-5, over UC San Diego. Additionally, Dodson cultivated an All-American season from Wagner junior Kimberly Watson (102 goals, 31 assists), who was also named the MAAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year.
Whilst at Wagner, Dodson was instrumental in helping recruit for Wagner’s first men’s varsity water polo team in school history. The team debuted as a CWPA member during the 2016 fall season.
Dodson played one professional season for Club Water Polo Dos Hermanas outside of Sevilla, Spain following an outstanding collegiate career at the University of California, Berkeley. Donning the co-captain’s cap her senior year, Dodson guided Cal to a silver medal at the 2011 NCAA Championships, topping a bronze finish in the year prior.
Currently Dodson is coaching for the renowned Saddleback El Toro Water Polo Club (SET) in El Toro, California, coaching at the 16U level. In addition, Dodson is assisting with coaching duties for her alma mater, Laguna Beach High School. She will join the Hoosiers after serving the USA Women’s team headed to the World University Games this August.
Dodson, a Laguna Beach, California native, graduated in 2013 from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in media studies. She completed her M.B.A. while serving on staff at Wagner College.
Press Release courtesy of Indiana Athletics.