Aug. 14, 2008

TEMPE, Ariz. – Todd Clapper, the head coach of the Arizona State University water polo program, has been appointed as the head coach of the New Zealand Senior Women’s National Team, New Zealand Water Polo announced Thursday. Clapper, entering his fourth season at the helm of the Sun Devil program, will continue his duties with ASU’s team while also working with New Zealand as it prepares for several upcoming international events.

“Being able to work with New Zealand and its women’s national program is a great opportunity for me,” Clapper said. “I look forward to helping their team develop and improve on the world stage. I feel this will be a great benefit for both New Zealand and Arizona State’s programs and I am very excited to get started.”

“Todd brings with him a wealth of coaching experience,” Operations Director Eelco Uri said. “He has been working within the USA national women’s program, one of the best in the world, for many years. I am thrilled we have been able to sign a coach of his caliber.”

Clapper has been signed to a one-year contract with NZWP and will help prepare the national team for upcoming international events, including the 2009 World Championships that will be held in Rome, Italy, before playing host to the 2010 FINA World Cup in Wellington, New Zealand.

In his coaching career, Clapper has served as the head coach of the U.S. National Youth Team and the U.S. Under 20 National Team. In 2005, Clapper took his U.S. Youth National Team to Montreal and won the Pan-Am Junior Games, a tournament for teams one age division higher than his squad. For his efforts, the U.S. Olympic Committee named him the USOC Water Polo Coach of the Year while dubbing his team the USOC Water Polo Team of the Year.

During his three years with the ASU program, the Sun Devils have continued to climb the standings, including a 2008 season in which the team climbed to a national No. 4 ranking, it’s highest ever, while placing in a tie for fifth in the MPSF standings. Three of his players earned All-America honors, including Addison McGrath, the first, first-team selection in ASU history, as well as Caylinn Wallace and Kelly Phelps, both honorable mention selections.