Caitlin Haskell - Water Polo Coach

Caitlin Haskell

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
chaskell@csufresno.edu
Phone:
559-278-5149

Fresno State head women's water polo coach Natalie Benson announced the hiring of Caitlin Haskell as an assistant coach on August 4, 2016. A Fresno native, Haskell will returned to the Valley to help Benson build the Bulldog program from the ground up.

"I am very excited to welcome Caitlin Haskell back home to the Valley," Benson said. "Caitlin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our new program, and I am positive that she will help me create a culture that will excite prospects, empower our student-athletes, and be true to the values of Fresno State and the Valley."

Haskell comes to Fresno State after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan, working alongside current USA Youth Women's National Team head coach Marcelo Leonardi. Last season, she helped guide the Wolverines to their highest ranking, and highest finish, in program history at No. 4. This came on the heels of capturing their first CWPA title since 2010 and earning an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.

"Assisting Natalie Benson in starting a Division I program at Fresno State is amazing," Haskell said. "I have a lot of pride for my upbringing in Fresno and I can't wait to give back to the community that gave me so much. I want to thank the athletic administration for believing that a Division I water polo program would benefit Fresno State and also for giving me the opportunity to help develop a successful program."

Haskell joined Michigan after spending three years (2011-14) with SOCAL Water Polo, considered among the top clubs in the country. During her tenure, she quickly rose to youth girls co-head coach and was instrumental in coaching SOCAL to top finishes in the Junior Olympics and the prestigious TYR Champions Cup, including gold at the 2013 event.

She has held the position of SOPAC Zone assistant coach and was selected to be the assistant coach for the USA National Development Team (8th grade and under) from 2011-13. She has most recently spent time as an assistant coach in the Great Lakes Zone.

In 2013, Haskell was selected to serve as a primary national staff coach for the ODP Holiday Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.

As a collegiate player at UC Irvine (2008-11), Haskell garnered 2011 ACWPC All-America honorable mention accolades and was a two-time Big West All-Conference second team selection (2010, '11) under the tutelage of current USA Women's National Team assistant coach Dan Klatt. She ended her collegiate career with 118 career goals, including a career-best 41 as a junior, ranking among UCI's all-time goal leaders. As a senior, Haskell led the Anteaters to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and captured three consecutive Big West Tournament titles (2009-11).

Haskell graduated from UC Irvine in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in social ecology. As a senior, she earned ACWPC All-Academic Team honors and was named a Big West and UCI Scholar-Athlete.

Prior to UCI, Haskell was a standout prep athlete at Buchanan High School, leading the Bears to three straight California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Central Section Championships. She was named back-to-back CIF Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior.