SAN DIEGO - USA Water Polo has announced that San Diego State assistant water polo coach Hope Mayer is the recipient of the 2022 Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award for the Pacific Southwest zone. The announcement was made from USA Water Polo headquarters in Irvine, Calif.
Mayer becomes the second Aztec coach to be named the awards winner for the zone, following former head coach Carin Crawford who garnered the honor in both 2016 and 2017.
Sandy Nitta was an Olympic swimmer as a teenager who transitioned to water polo and was the head coach of the women's national team in the 1980s and 1990s. Nitta helped the U.S. to bronze medals at the 1986 and 1991 World Championships.
Mayer is one of 10 coaches to receive the award in the United States, which recognizes Elite Women's Coaches. Each zone award winner is eligible for the national Sandy Nitta Distinguished Coaching Award, which will be announced later this year.