October 27, 2026 | Men's Water Polo
IRVINE, Calif. – Director of Water Polo Dan Klatt is among the distinguished honorees at the 55th annual Lauds & Laurels ceremony, hosted by the UC Irvine Alumni Association on Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Since 1971, Lauds & Laurels has served as the UC Irvine Alumni Association's premier awards celebration, recognizing outstanding alumni and community leaders whose achievements reflect the university's excellence and impact. Presented by the association's Board of Directors, the awards represent one of the highest honors within the UC Irvine community. As one of the university's longest-running award ceremonies, Lauds & Laurels has recognized more than 900 members of the UC Irvine community. The annual event brings together Anteaters to celebrate exceptional contributions across a range of professions, as well as in service and leadership.
"I appreciate the university honoring me for what I've done, with the opportunities I've been given by the university. So it's kind of like a circular grace," Klatt said.
Klatt, who oversees both UC Irvine's Division I men's and women's water polo programs, is one of 23 distinguished honorees at this year's ceremony. Now in his fifth year as Director of Water Polo and fifth season leading the men's program, Klatt is set to enter his 23rd season as the women's head coach in 2027.
Klatt holds a 426-225 career record at the helm of the women's program and an 82-49 record with the men, including a 12-4 mark in Big West play. This season, he has guided the men's team to a 17-6 overall record and 2-1 in Big West play The Anteaters also sit sixth in the national rankings.
Under his guidance, the men's program captured back-to-back Big West regular-season championships in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, he led the Anteaters to both the inaugural Big West regular-season and tournament titles, earning the program its first NCAA Tournament berth in 30 years.
Klatt's success extends to the women's program, where he has been named Big West Coach of the Year a conference-leading nine times. He has guided the Anteaters to nine Big West regular-season titles, nine tournament championships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Throughout his tenure, Klatt has also coached 48 All-Americans, seven Big West Players of the Year and six Big West Freshman of the Year honorees. His sustained success with the women's program reflects the commitment to excellence that Lauds & Laurels celebrates.
"This university took chances on me two different times: first as a 17-year-old boy coming in, giving me opportunities in two sports and the opportunity to play for one of the greatest coaches ever, and then again when they hired me here at 25 years old," Klatt said.
Klatt's connection to UC Irvine spans decades, from his time as a student-athlete to his role leading the university's water polo programs. His tenure with the women's program has included several standout seasons. In 2023, he led the Anteaters to their second consecutive Big West Championship, the regular-season title and their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance under his leadership. The team also reached No. 3 nationally, tying for the second-highest ranking in program history. In 2022, Klatt guided UC Irvine to another Big West Championship after an upset victory over top-seeded Hawai'i.
In 2017, Klatt led one of the most successful seasons in program history, as the Anteaters finished 23-7, swept the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, and ended the year ranked fifth nationally. His leadership also fueled an unprecedented stretch from 2011-15, when UC Irvine recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons and made four NCAA Tournament appearances. During that run, the Anteaters set a then-program record with 25 wins in 2012, finished fourth at the NCAA Championships and placed fifth nationally in both 2011 and 2014. In 2014, the team also captured the Big West Championship and completed an undefeated conference season.
These milestones, along with UC Irvine's return to the NCAA Tournament in 2018, highlight Klatt's lasting influence on the women's program and underscore the accomplishments that make him a fitting honoree at this year's Lauds & Laurels ceremony.
"I've always been super thankful that UCI highlights water polo and is proud of the accomplishments of individual student-athletes who have been a part of Olympic teams, but also that we continue to support the opportunity to compete in water polo," Klatt said.
Beyond UC Irvine, Klatt has achieved success on the international stage as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team, helping lead the squad to three consecutive Olympic gold medals at the 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Games. He also helped Team USA capture titles at the FINA Women's World Cup and World League Super Finals and previously served as head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team.
A 2001 UC Irvine graduate, Klatt was also a standout Anteater student-athlete, earning All-America honors as a member of the men's water polo team in 1998 and 2000. He went on to represent the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Men's Olympic Water Polo Team, further extending his connection to the sport and the university.
"For 30 years of being an active Anteater, I'm certainly grateful. A lot of people go somewhere for college and move on in their lives. Some people stay connected. I've stayed connected in a deeper way," Klatt said.
The 55th annual Lauds & Laurels ceremony will take place Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, where Klatt will join fellow honorees in celebrating the achievements and contributions of the UC Irvine community. The event will be hosted by Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning performer Jenn Colella, M.F.A., who returns to her alma mater for the celebration.
2026 Extraordinarius Award
Ann Quilter, M.S. '79, and Charles Quilter, M.A. '06, Ph.D. '10
2026 Distinguished Awardees
Jennifer Gialeen Aaron '97, MBA '05
Aileen J. Anderson, Ph.D. '95
Schuyler H. Bassett
Jerry Braakman '95, EMBA '08
Robert G. Ernst '67
Leonard A. Ferrari, Ph.D. '80
Patrick W. Glasgow '68
Kimberly Goll, M.U.R.P. '00
Johnny Hart
Paul Huynh '93
Daniel Klatt '01
Jim Kohlenberger '85
Maureen Namrita Kotecki '08, B.S. '10
Cleveland Lewis Jr., M.D. '60
Mark Alfred Malek '96 (posthumous)
Sepideh Khouzani Moafi, M.F.A. '13
Hang Virginia Nguyen '02, M.A.T. '03
Melissa E. Patterson '03
Natalie D. Richardson '92
Akhil Sheth, J.D. '13
MIna Shin
Chris Insuk Song, MBA '11
Casey Vanderlip, M.S. '25
Since 1971, Lauds & Laurels has served as the UC Irvine Alumni Association's premier awards celebration, recognizing outstanding alumni and community leaders whose achievements reflect the university's excellence and impact. Presented by the association's Board of Directors, the awards represent one of the highest honors within the UC Irvine community. As one of the university's longest-running award ceremonies, Lauds & Laurels has recognized more than 900 members of the UC Irvine community. The annual event brings together Anteaters to celebrate exceptional contributions across a range of professions, as well as in service and leadership.
"I appreciate the university honoring me for what I've done, with the opportunities I've been given by the university. So it's kind of like a circular grace," Klatt said.
Klatt, who oversees both UC Irvine's Division I men's and women's water polo programs, is one of 23 distinguished honorees at this year's ceremony. Now in his fifth year as Director of Water Polo and fifth season leading the men's program, Klatt is set to enter his 23rd season as the women's head coach in 2027.
Klatt holds a 426-225 career record at the helm of the women's program and an 82-49 record with the men, including a 12-4 mark in Big West play. This season, he has guided the men's team to a 17-6 overall record and 2-1 in Big West play The Anteaters also sit sixth in the national rankings.
Under his guidance, the men's program captured back-to-back Big West regular-season championships in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, he led the Anteaters to both the inaugural Big West regular-season and tournament titles, earning the program its first NCAA Tournament berth in 30 years.
Klatt's success extends to the women's program, where he has been named Big West Coach of the Year a conference-leading nine times. He has guided the Anteaters to nine Big West regular-season titles, nine tournament championships and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Throughout his tenure, Klatt has also coached 48 All-Americans, seven Big West Players of the Year and six Big West Freshman of the Year honorees. His sustained success with the women's program reflects the commitment to excellence that Lauds & Laurels celebrates.
"This university took chances on me two different times: first as a 17-year-old boy coming in, giving me opportunities in two sports and the opportunity to play for one of the greatest coaches ever, and then again when they hired me here at 25 years old," Klatt said.
Klatt's connection to UC Irvine spans decades, from his time as a student-athlete to his role leading the university's water polo programs. His tenure with the women's program has included several standout seasons. In 2023, he led the Anteaters to their second consecutive Big West Championship, the regular-season title and their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance under his leadership. The team also reached No. 3 nationally, tying for the second-highest ranking in program history. In 2022, Klatt guided UC Irvine to another Big West Championship after an upset victory over top-seeded Hawai'i.
In 2017, Klatt led one of the most successful seasons in program history, as the Anteaters finished 23-7, swept the Big West regular-season and tournament titles, and ended the year ranked fifth nationally. His leadership also fueled an unprecedented stretch from 2011-15, when UC Irvine recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons and made four NCAA Tournament appearances. During that run, the Anteaters set a then-program record with 25 wins in 2012, finished fourth at the NCAA Championships and placed fifth nationally in both 2011 and 2014. In 2014, the team also captured the Big West Championship and completed an undefeated conference season.
These milestones, along with UC Irvine's return to the NCAA Tournament in 2018, highlight Klatt's lasting influence on the women's program and underscore the accomplishments that make him a fitting honoree at this year's Lauds & Laurels ceremony.
"I've always been super thankful that UCI highlights water polo and is proud of the accomplishments of individual student-athletes who have been a part of Olympic teams, but also that we continue to support the opportunity to compete in water polo," Klatt said.
Beyond UC Irvine, Klatt has achieved success on the international stage as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team, helping lead the squad to three consecutive Olympic gold medals at the 2012 London, 2016 Rio de Janeiro and 2020 Tokyo Games. He also helped Team USA capture titles at the FINA Women's World Cup and World League Super Finals and previously served as head coach of the U.S. Junior National Team.
A 2001 UC Irvine graduate, Klatt was also a standout Anteater student-athlete, earning All-America honors as a member of the men's water polo team in 1998 and 2000. He went on to represent the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games as a member of the U.S. Men's Olympic Water Polo Team, further extending his connection to the sport and the university.
"For 30 years of being an active Anteater, I'm certainly grateful. A lot of people go somewhere for college and move on in their lives. Some people stay connected. I've stayed connected in a deeper way," Klatt said.
The 55th annual Lauds & Laurels ceremony will take place Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, where Klatt will join fellow honorees in celebrating the achievements and contributions of the UC Irvine community. The event will be hosted by Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning performer Jenn Colella, M.F.A., who returns to her alma mater for the celebration.
2026 Extraordinarius Award
Ann Quilter, M.S. '79, and Charles Quilter, M.A. '06, Ph.D. '10
2026 Distinguished Awardees
Jennifer Gialeen Aaron '97, MBA '05
Aileen J. Anderson, Ph.D. '95
Schuyler H. Bassett
Jerry Braakman '95, EMBA '08
Robert G. Ernst '67
Leonard A. Ferrari, Ph.D. '80
Patrick W. Glasgow '68
Kimberly Goll, M.U.R.P. '00
Johnny Hart
Paul Huynh '93
Daniel Klatt '01
Jim Kohlenberger '85
Maureen Namrita Kotecki '08, B.S. '10
Cleveland Lewis Jr., M.D. '60
Mark Alfred Malek '96 (posthumous)
Sepideh Khouzani Moafi, M.F.A. '13
Hang Virginia Nguyen '02, M.A.T. '03
Melissa E. Patterson '03
Natalie D. Richardson '92
Akhil Sheth, J.D. '13
MIna Shin
Chris Insuk Song, MBA '11
Casey Vanderlip, M.S. '25
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