BERKELEY – Former Cal volunteer assistant women's water polo coach Chris Lee, who recently served as the head coach for both the women's and men's programs at Occidental College, has returned to the Golden Bear family as Assistant Coach.

Lee served on Cal's staff from 2013-2015, helping the Bears make back-to-back trips to the NCAA Championships. He was the Tigers' men's head coach for two seasons and the women for one.

"I am extremely excited to welcome Chris back to Cal Athletics," Cal head coach Coralie Simmons said. "Chris is well-acquainted with the Cal experience and our winning culture. Moving forward, I believe Chris will help sustain and cultivate this attitude and potential. His care, knowledge and passion for the sport will lead to greatness from our current and future student-athletes."

Lee has extensive experience in the U.S. National Team program, having helped Team USA bring home the gold medal in each of the last two Olympics as a video analyst. He also has served as head coach for the U.S. Olympic Development Program  and as an assistant coach for the U.S. Women's Cadet National Team.

Prior to his first stint at Cal, Lee was the head coach of Penn's women's water polo program for eight years and the Quakers' men's program for two seasons. He was named the Mid-Atlantic Division Women's Water Polo Coach of the Year four times and won the honor for men's water polo in each of the two seasons he coached the Quakers. Lee then was an assistant coach for the Pomona & Pitzer Colleges men's and women's programs from 2009-12.

Lee was Penn's team captain as a player and helped the Quakers win the Mid-Atlantic Division championship in 2002. He earned his degree in Computer Science from Penn in 2004 and also has a minor in architecture. Lee additionally has a Master of Architecture degree from the Penn School of Design.

"I want to thank Coralie and the rest of the search committee for this incredible opportunity to return to Cal," Lee said. "I have so much respect for the program and all of the history and tradition that surrounds it. I am humbled to have a chance to be a part of that."

The addition of Lee rounds out Simmons' coaching staff. She previously hired former Cal great Heather Petri as volunteer assistant coach. All three members of the Bears' coaching staff have Olympic experience.

Simmons was hired as Cal's new head coach last month.

"I am excited about getting the chance to coach with Coralie and Heather," Lee said. "They have so much knowledge and experience and I know it will be so valuable to this group of student-athletes. I can't wait to get started."

The 2017 season begins in January. The Bears will be returning 2016 Olympians Roser Tarrago, Dora Antal and Anna Illes, each of whom took last year off to train with their respective national teams. Cal also returns 2016 All-Americans Emily Loughlin, Carla Carrega and Kindred Paul.