Time, Perspective, Humility: Dan Klatt Reflects on Father's Day 2020
June 21, 2020 | Women's Water Polo, Features
UC Irvine women's water polo head coach and U.S. Women's National Team assistant coach Dan Klatt was in the midst of the 2020 season as well in full preparation for the upcoming Toyko Olympics when the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt in mid-March.
Klatt was averaging 8 hours a day, 7 days a week on deck training both teams when in person coaching activities were immediately suspended.
UCI was in the middle of another successful 2020 campaign, riding a five-game winning streak and sitting at a No. 5 national ranking when the season was canceled.
"I have spent more time inside my house in the past three months than I have in the previous two years," remarked Klatt.
Klatt, the father of two twin four-year old boys, reflects on his time spent at home. "You would think there would be an abrupt change in the work load, activity levels, and stress when all of those hours go away. But that is only if you are unaware of what twin 4 year old boys, relegated to their house, are capable of. I may be more worn out than any workout or coaching day have ever made me. It is the most exhausting fun I have ever had. To call it hard would be disrespectful to the parents across our country who are working hard to keep their families safe, healthy, and educated under much harder circumstances than my own. Those are the real parent heroes of this time."
While in person training was suspended the work did not stop as Klatt, along with many parents across the world, were faced with juggling the care for their families and a full-time workload.
"UC Irvine is an amazing employer, and our campus leadership has worked tirelessly so that we have the resources available to care for our families and to continue doing our jobs to the best of our ability from home. Our leadership has also been patient and accepting. At least one of my children has been present in over 100 Zoom calls. A basic email takes much longer to write because no matter where I hide these boys will hunt me down. It is probably a good time to thank the software developers responsible for spelling and grammar check because train of thought often disappears with the constant distractions. They just want to play, or cuddle, or see what you are doing, and how can you deny them that. It is so innocent and pure. Love and curiosity are the common forces in each experience with them and it has been joyful."
Klatt, finishing up his 16th season as a head coach at UCI, also serves as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team. He helped Team USA win back-to-back gold medals in London (2012) and Brazil (2016). Team USA was preparing for the 2020 games in Tokyo, looking for a third-straight gold medal.
With the Olympics postponed until 2021, Klatt chooses to look at the things he has gained rather than lost this year.
"Our family of four has spent my wife's 40th birthday, my son's 4th birthday, the 2nd anniversary of my wife's heart surgery, and Mother's Day in our home, TOGETHER. There were no grand plans, but we were TOGETHER, and that is enough. Father's Day will be the same. Time, which allowed me to share quality experiences with my wife and watch the daily growth of my boys, which is so rapid at this age. Perspective, that has allowed me to delve deeper into what is truly important in this world, what kind of man I am today and what kind I want to be tomorrow, and how important it is to pay attention because of how fast time moves. Humility, to be able to sit with my failures and successes as a man and parent. I see my strengths and weaknesses in myself and my children every day. Love, the power loving yourself and others, and allowing yourself to be loved, can have over any experience in this world."
While Klatt will get to be surrounded by his family for Father's Day, there is one group of people he will dearly miss on the special day.
"The hardest part of this Father's Day is how much I miss my team. The young women I coach are an equally important part of my family. We have done our best to stay connected, but it isn't the same as laughing and struggling together daily. It is hard to get the same value out of sports without the human experience. Having my own children has only amplified the way I care about the women I am lucky enough to coach. I know that what I have learned about myself and family during this time will positively impact our program when we are back together, and I am thankful for that."
"It is an honor to be a Dad! It is an honor to be a husband! It is an honor to coach the amazing women at UC Irvine! Rather than celebrate myself or be celebrated I hope to use this Father's Day to reflect and be grateful for the opportunities I have been blessed with."
Happy Father's Day!
Klatt was averaging 8 hours a day, 7 days a week on deck training both teams when in person coaching activities were immediately suspended.
UCI was in the middle of another successful 2020 campaign, riding a five-game winning streak and sitting at a No. 5 national ranking when the season was canceled.
"I have spent more time inside my house in the past three months than I have in the previous two years," remarked Klatt.
Klatt, the father of two twin four-year old boys, reflects on his time spent at home. "You would think there would be an abrupt change in the work load, activity levels, and stress when all of those hours go away. But that is only if you are unaware of what twin 4 year old boys, relegated to their house, are capable of. I may be more worn out than any workout or coaching day have ever made me. It is the most exhausting fun I have ever had. To call it hard would be disrespectful to the parents across our country who are working hard to keep their families safe, healthy, and educated under much harder circumstances than my own. Those are the real parent heroes of this time."
While in person training was suspended the work did not stop as Klatt, along with many parents across the world, were faced with juggling the care for their families and a full-time workload.
"UC Irvine is an amazing employer, and our campus leadership has worked tirelessly so that we have the resources available to care for our families and to continue doing our jobs to the best of our ability from home. Our leadership has also been patient and accepting. At least one of my children has been present in over 100 Zoom calls. A basic email takes much longer to write because no matter where I hide these boys will hunt me down. It is probably a good time to thank the software developers responsible for spelling and grammar check because train of thought often disappears with the constant distractions. They just want to play, or cuddle, or see what you are doing, and how can you deny them that. It is so innocent and pure. Love and curiosity are the common forces in each experience with them and it has been joyful."
Klatt, finishing up his 16th season as a head coach at UCI, also serves as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team. He helped Team USA win back-to-back gold medals in London (2012) and Brazil (2016). Team USA was preparing for the 2020 games in Tokyo, looking for a third-straight gold medal.
With the Olympics postponed until 2021, Klatt chooses to look at the things he has gained rather than lost this year.
"Our family of four has spent my wife's 40th birthday, my son's 4th birthday, the 2nd anniversary of my wife's heart surgery, and Mother's Day in our home, TOGETHER. There were no grand plans, but we were TOGETHER, and that is enough. Father's Day will be the same. Time, which allowed me to share quality experiences with my wife and watch the daily growth of my boys, which is so rapid at this age. Perspective, that has allowed me to delve deeper into what is truly important in this world, what kind of man I am today and what kind I want to be tomorrow, and how important it is to pay attention because of how fast time moves. Humility, to be able to sit with my failures and successes as a man and parent. I see my strengths and weaknesses in myself and my children every day. Love, the power loving yourself and others, and allowing yourself to be loved, can have over any experience in this world."
While Klatt will get to be surrounded by his family for Father's Day, there is one group of people he will dearly miss on the special day.
"The hardest part of this Father's Day is how much I miss my team. The young women I coach are an equally important part of my family. We have done our best to stay connected, but it isn't the same as laughing and struggling together daily. It is hard to get the same value out of sports without the human experience. Having my own children has only amplified the way I care about the women I am lucky enough to coach. I know that what I have learned about myself and family during this time will positively impact our program when we are back together, and I am thankful for that."
"It is an honor to be a Dad! It is an honor to be a husband! It is an honor to coach the amazing women at UC Irvine! Rather than celebrate myself or be celebrated I hope to use this Father's Day to reflect and be grateful for the opportunities I have been blessed with."
Happy Father's Day!
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