By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam
UCLA Head Water Polo Coach Adam Wright will step away from coaching duties for the 2026 women’s season, the Bruins’ Athletics Department announced on December 29.
“I have been dealing with a lot of back and nerve pain for the last six-plus months,” Wright said in the university’s press release. “My hope was that I would be in a better place by now, but it has not improved, and I will need to step back from my day-to-day activity to address these health issues. This is going to take some time to figure out a plan of attack and how to handle the rehabilitation process.”
The university said Wright will continue to oversee the program but will step into an advisory role while focusing on his health. To lead the team during his absence, men’s and women’s associate head coach Jason Falitz and men’s assistant Matt Kubeck have been named interim co-head coaches.
“We appreciate Adam’s leadership and his commitment to both programs, but he needs to prioritize his health, which is of the utmost importance,” The Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said. “We have outstanding coaches in Jason and Matt to lead our talented student-athletes this season. Their continuity, leadership, and deep understanding of UCLA’s culture will help make this a seamless transition. We will support Adam and our coaches as they prepare to compete for championships once again.”
Wright oversees both UCLA’s men’s and women’s water polo programs. The women’s season runs from fall through spring, culminating with the NCAA Championship in May, while the men’s season is primarily in the fall, concluding with their championship in November or December.
Last month, Wright guided the Bruin men to their second straight NCAA title with an upset victory over top-ranked USC. UCLA, ranked second entering the tournament, won 11-10 on a last-second goal by Frederico Juca Carsalade.
In 2024, Wright led the Bruin women to their eighth NCAA Championship with a perfect 26-0 record.
Wright has accumulated eight championships with UCLA: six of them as the men’s head coach (2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2024, and 2025), one as the women’s head coach (2024), and one as the women’s assistant coach (2009).
He has coached nine players onto Team USA’s Olympic team over the past nine years:
2016 Rio Olympics:
Josh Samuels Alex Roelse2020 Tokyo Olympics:
Alex Wolf Max Irving Maddie Musselman Bronte Halligan2024 Paris Olympics:
Chase Dodd Ryder Dodd Max Irving Maddie Musselman Bronte Halligan Sienna GreenWright has been the head coach of the men’s team since 2009 and took over the women’s program in 2018. He’s been coaching with the team at some capacity since 2004.
He was a four-year letterwinner at UCLA from 1997-2000, helping lead the Bruins to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1999 and 2000. He graduated in 2001 with degrees in history and sociology.
Following his playing career, Wright continued competing internationally while beginning his coaching journey, representing Team USA at three Olympic Games. He finished seventh in Athens in 2004, captured a silver medal in Beijing in 2008, and placed eighth in London in 2012.
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