DAVIS, Calif. - Thanks to a generous donation from the families of two former UC Davis student-athletes, the head men's water polo coaching position, currently held by fourth-year mentor Daniel Leyson, has been renamed as the Child And Meisel Families Director of Men's Water Polo. This is the first endowed coaching position in the 109-year history of the Aggie athletics department.

Additionally, Leyson's appointment has been granted a five-year extension. Last fall, the former U.S. National Team player and coach guided UC Davis to its first Western Water Polo Association championship and NCAA postseason appearance since 1997. Leyson was subsequently named as WWPA Coach of the Year.

"The generosity of Mike Child and Steve Meisel, their commitment to the men's water polo program and the level of excitement they have is astounding and a little overwhelming, to be honest," Leyson said. "I'm grateful, and at the same time understanding of the importance of the commitment they have made. I want to make sure we continue to do what we're doing on our end. Their commitment is really impressive and I am very grateful."

Mike and Renee Child are UC Davis alumni whose daughter, Laura, played for the Aggie women's water polo team in 2009. Steve and Janice Meisel are the parents of Kevin Meisel, a three-time All-Academic honoree who played for the men's program from 2009 through 2012. The official name of their gift is the Child And Meisel Families Men's Water Polo Head Coach Endowment.

"We are grateful for the generous support of the Child and Meisel families. A gift of this significance will make an extraordinary positive impact on our men's water polo program, and is a robust expression of confidence in Dan's leadership," said Kevin Blue, the university's first-year director of athletics.

"This gift also sets a positive example for other donors to follow as we continue to strengthen philanthropic support for our programs. Endowing a head coaching position provides a unique opportunity to create highly meaningful support in perpetuity for an Aggie program."

Coach Leyson was announced as the head men's water polo coach in May of 2013. He made an immediate impact with an undefeated conference season in that first year. However, Leyson's program reached new heights in 2016, setting school records for wins (23), winning percentage (.793), goals scored (12.6 per game) and final national ranking (No. 10). This came on the heels of garnering USA Water Polo's Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Men's Coaching Award and serving as the USA NorCal head coach in the USAWP National League.

The gift from the Child and Meisel families also continues a trend of philanthropic support for Aggie aquatics. A major capital campaign is underway to enhance Schaal Aquatics Center with a state-of-the-art team center that will benefit both men's and women's water polo teams plus the women's swimming & diving program. Cathy and Jack Raycraft, parents of Cal Aggie Athletics Hall of Famer Christi Raycraft Warner, made the lead gift to this project. David Hodgens and Linda Olson, whose daughter is CAAHOF inductee Tiffany Hodgens, also contributed a significant gift toward the center.

"Between the endowment and the aquatics center, this is an exciting time to be a part of UC Davis athletics," said Leyson. "I'm also thankful for the contract extension, as it shows the level of support this university has for men's water polo and its potential. I'm really excited to be here for at least another five years. I love this place, and I want do continue to do great things."