California Irvine Athletics

Dan Klatt is entering his fourth year as UC Irvine’s Director of Water Polo in 2025-26.
 
Klatt, who has continued to lead UCI through its ascent toward the top of the water polo landscape, owns an overall record of 52-32 in his three seasons as the men’s head coach, and a 413-211 record in 21 seasons at the helm of the women’s program.

The Anteater men claimed back-to-back Big West regular-season championships in 2023 and 2024. Last year, they went 18-9 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference. They were ranked as high as fifth in the nation. Seven ‘Eaters were named to the All-Big West Team, led by Luka Krstic, who received his second consecutive first-team nod. Krstic also garnered his second career All-America honor.
 
In 2023, UC Irvine won the inaugural Big West regular season and tournament championships to earn the program’s first NCAA bid in 30 years. The Anteaters boasted three All-Americans and six all-conference selections. UCI went 18-10 overall and 4-1 in Big West play, while coming in at No. 6 in the final CWPA national rankings.
 
In 2022, Klatt’s first year at the helm of the men’s team, the ‘Eaters went 16-13 for their first winning record since 2017.
 
On the women’s side, Klatt has been named the Big West Coach of the Year a conference-leading nine times. He has led UC Irvine to nine Big West regular season titles, nine tournament championships, and eight NCAA appearances. Individually, Klatt has coached 48 All-Americans, seven Big West Players of the Year, and six Big West Freshman of the Year award winners.

In 2023, the Anteaters won their second consecutive Big West Championship, claimed the regular-season title, and made their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance under Klatt. They were ranked as high as third nationally for just the second time in school history. UCI finished the year with a 20-7 overall record, and an unblemished 7-0 mark in conference play.
 
In 2022, UC Irvine went 22-7 overall. After placing second in the regular-season standings at 5-1, the ‘Eaters upset top-seeded Hawai’i in Honolulu, 11-8, to claim the Big West Championship.

In 2020, Klatt’s Anteaters raced out to a 15-5 record before the season was shortened in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. UCI earned its highest ranking in program history at No. 3, and ended the campaign at No. 5.

The 2018 ‘Eaters reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in eight seasons. They hosted the Big West Championship and rallied through the tournament, defeating UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, and top-seeded Hawai’i to take home the title.

In 2017, Klatt led UC Irvine to one of its most successful seasons in program history. The Anteaters finished 23-7 overall and a perfect 5-0 in Big West play. UCI’s 23 wins were tied for second in program history. The ‘Eaters captured the Big West regular season and tournament titles, while ending the year ranked fifth nationally.

Klatt guided UC Irvine to an unprecedented stretch from 2011-15, where the Anteaters had five-straight 20-win seasons and made four NCAA appearances. In 2015, the ‘Eaters went 21-9, and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships where they placed fifth overall. In 2014, Klatt’s squad tied a school record with 25 wins, and registered the program’s third unbeaten conference season at 5-0. They also won the Big West Championship and closed out the campaign ranked fifth in the nation.
 
The Anteaters set the school record for wins in a season with a 25-8 mark in 2012, one year after posting 23 victories to match the previous standard. They went 5-0 in the Big West both years, while finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships in 2012 and fifth in 2011.

Klatt and the 'Eaters have made waves since joining the Big West with a 72-17 (.809) league record in the conference’s 17-year history. The Anteaters spent Klatt’s first four seasons in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF).

Outside of UCI, Klatt has served as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team, helping the squad win three consecutive gold medals at the London (2012), Brazil (2016) and Tokyo (2020/2021) Olympic Games.
 
He also helped Team USA to titles in both the FINA Women's World Cup and the FINA World League Super Finals. In addition, Klatt spent time as the head coach of the U.S. junior national team.
 
Klatt graduated from UC Irvine in 2001. He was a member of the men’s water polo team, earning All-America honors in 1998 and 2000. Klatt went on to make the 2004 U.S. Olympic Water Polo team that competed in the Athens Games.
 

The Klatt File

• Nine-Time Women's Big West Coach of the Year (2023, 2022, 2018, 2017, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)
• Assistant Coach, U.S. Women's National Team
• Head Coach, U.S. Women's Junior National Team
• U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team, 2004
• Two-Time NCAA Water Polo All-American (1998, 2000)