UC Davis women's water polo is bringing a legend back to the pool deck with the return of Assistant Coach Katherine Shroyer. A decorated former student-athlete and veteran coach, Shroyer returns to her alma mater with a resume defined by championship pedigree and a deep history of success within the program she once led as a three-time team captain.

"I am so excited to welcome Katherine back to the women's water polo program," Head Coach Kandace Waldthaler said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and pride from her prior years as a student-athlete and assistant coach at UC Davis that will have an immediate impact on our student-athletes. We are thrilled she is back with the Aggies!"

Shroyer previously served as an assistant coach for the Aggies from 2007 to 2010, a tenure highlighted by a WWPA Conference Championship and a fourth-place finish at the 2008 NCAA Championships. During that stint, Shroyer mentored current UC Davis Assistant Coach Dakotah Mohr for three seasons; the two now reunite to lead the next generation of Aggies in the Big West.

Before her return to Davis, Shroyer spent over a decade expanding her coaching portfolio across the country, including serving as a Head Coach for the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program (ODP) in the Pacific Northwest.

Her storied playing career at UC Davis (2004–2007) remains one of the most decorated in school history. A two-time NCAA Division I All-American and the 2006 WWPA Player of the Year, she was honored with the 2007 W.P. Lindley Award as the school's outstanding scholar-athlete and the Hubert Heitman Award as the Female Athlete of the Year. Her legacy was cemented in 2013 with her induction into the UC Davis Athletics Hall of Fame.

"Returning to the Schaal pool deck is truly a dream come true," Shroyer said. "Being an Aggie I learned more than just the x's and o's of water polo, I learned life lessons in teamwork, resilience, and determination. I'm grateful for the opportunity to help develop those same qualities in our current student-athletes alongside such a talented coaching staff."

Shroyer graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Organizational Studies. Beyond her water polo expertise, she brings a diverse coaching background in youth sports and fitness, holding numerous certifications that reflect her commitment to student-athlete development in and out of the pool.

ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS: 
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked No. 1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as No. 1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27. 

For more information, visit https://ucdavisaggies.com/.