California Irvine Athletics

UC Irvine announced the hiring of John Abdou as the Associate Athletic Director for Health, Wellness and Sports Performance in October of 2022.

"I'd like to thank the search committee for the excellent work in selecting John for this important position," Athletic Director Paula Smith said. "The health, wellness and performance of our student-athletes are a priority and the ability to hire someone with John's skill-set will facilitate and elevate the complete health care model here at UCI.

Abdou comes to UCI after serving as the Chief Sport Performance Officer for USA Water Polo since 2017.   

"I want to thank Paula Smith, Paul Hope and the entire search committee for the opportunity to come home to my alma mater and serve in this new leadership role," Abdou said. "They have prioritized the integration of support services to enhance the student-athletes' performance on and off the field of play and that will pay dividends on many levels. I am excited to start this new chapter in my career as it is a unique nexus of my life's work and experiences. I'm grateful and ready for the challenge as UCI is a place that means so much to me and my family."    

He has been an integral part of USA Water Polo, also holding the position of High Performance Director from 2013-2017. He was a co-chair for the USAWP Task Force on Racial Equity and Reform as well as served on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Council on Racial and Social Justice.   

While at USAWAP, Team USA has had unprecedented success. The women's team won gold medals at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the men's and women's teams capturing gold medals at the 2015 and 2019 Pan American Games, plus nine combined medals at FINA World League Super Finals, Women's World Cups gold medals in 2014 and 2018, and number of combined medals at the World University Games, Junior and Youth International competitions. Abdou has also overseen the growth of the Olympic Development Program, more than tripling the number of athletes involved in the process from start to finish and overseen the development of the nation's first digital water polo coaching manual and Mobile Coaching App., establishing the largest resource for coach development in the world.   

Abdou has served as the Executive Director of the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches since 2015, overseeing the growth and development of the organization. He also serves on the FINA Development Sub-Committee, which supports the growth and development of water polo globally. Over the last eight years, he has been the event chairman of international events across the country and globe. 

He is an experienced coach, leading UC Santa Barbara as the Associate Head Men's Coach (2011-2013), and at Bucknell (2005-210), coaching both the men's and women's programs.

Abdou comes home to UCI, earning degrees in sociology, psychology, and education in 2001 while competing in water polo for the Anteaters.   

He went on to add a master's degree in higher education from Bucknell University in 2012 as well as a certificate in Olympic Nonprofit Leadership at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management in 2019.  

Head women's basketball coach Tamara Inoue, a member of the search committee, said:

"I believe John will come in and make an immediate impact with his knowledge of resources that will benefit our student-athletes beyond what is already provided for them. His passion and love for UC Irvine speaks volumes and I'm excited to work alongside him." 

UCI Director of Water Polo Dan Klatt worked with Abdou at USA Water Polo and knows the value that Abdou will bring to the Anteaters. 

"We are getting a proven leader in the field of sports performance that has produced multiple medal winning teams and ran an entire organization with a membership of 50,000 people," Klatt noted. "He has a vested interest in UCI and improving what it offers its student-athletes and how they perform."