HONOLULU — University of Hawai’i women’s water polo head coach Maureen Coleannounced the hiring of Serela Kay as associate coach for the Rainbow Wahine. Kay boasts nearly two decades of experience in the sport as a player and coach, including experience with the
HONOLULU — University of Hawai’i women’s water polo head coach Maureen Coleannounced the hiring of Serela Kay as associate coach for the Rainbow Wahine. Kay boasts nearly two decades of experience in the sport as a player and coach, including experience with the US National Team.
Kay and Cole were teammates on UCLA’s 2000 national title team. Since then Kay developed her coaching skills at a variety of institutions on both the East and West coasts, as well with United State Water Polo. More than a decade later, the paths of the Kay and Cole meet again, this time in Honolulu.
“I’m very excited to have Serela join our program,” Cole said. “She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience at the collegiate level as well as infectious, positive energy. We worked great together as college teammates and I am looking forward to working with her to bring UH its first Big West water polo championship.”
Kay added: “I am thrilled about joining UH and being a part of the program’s first year in the Big West. Exciting times lay ahead for Rainbow Wahine water polo.”
Kay comes to UH after serving as the associate coach for the women’s program at the University of Maryland. During her tenure (2010-12) the team captured the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) in 2011 and back-to-back Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) division championships in 2011 and ’12.
Kay previously enjoyed two stints as an assistant coach on both the Princeton University men’s and women’s staffs (2002-04, ’09-10). Her stay there was highlighted by a 2009 Mens CWPA Eastern Championship and third-place finish at the NCAA Championship.
The native of Maryland, has also coached on the West Coast with a four-year run as a women’s assistant at California (2005-09). Prior to working at Cal, Kay was the director and senior head coach of the Santa Barbara Water Polo Foundation from 2004 to ’05.
Her coaching resume also includes experience with the US national program. She served as an assistant coach with the USA Water Polo Youth National Team for six seasons, leading the team to numerous international championships. She was also on the staff of the U.S. Women’s Senior National Team that won a gold medal at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome.
As a player, Kay was a four-year starter at UCLA, during which time the Bruins captured three national titles in 1997, ’98 and 2000. She was also a member of the USA Junior National Team from 1995-97, helping Team USA to a gold medal at the 1996 Junior Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba.
Kay graduated from UCLA in 2000 with a degree in psychology, with a specialization in business and administration. She received a master’s in sports science with a specialization in sport management from the United States Sports Academy in 2004, and a master’s in education from Cal in 2008.
