It's often said that friends made in college will last a lifetime. If that's the case, Ken Montgomery needs to live a life for two.

Montgomery first started at Cal in the summer of 1989 before leaving in 1991 for what he calls a 25-year break between his sophomore and junior years. He returned to Berkeley as an undergrad in 2016 and graduated with a degree in classical civilizations as part of the Class of 2018 - 30 years after initially arriving on campus

A constant in each of his stints as an undergrad at Cal, and indeed throughout those 30 years, was the many friends Ken made, thanks in particular to the Bears' men's water polo program. 

Montgomery, who grew up in San Leandro, said that during his first time at Cal, some of his best friends were on the water polo team, including Jeff Kacerek '92 and current head coach Kirk Everist '90. When he returned, he formed close bonds with the current members of the team, too. 

 

"Though I was never a member of the team, Kirk and the guys on the team have always made me feel like a member of the family," Montgomery said. 

Ultimately, it was this familial bond with the team and love for the game that brought him to make a generous $2.7 million planned gift commitment to the Cal men's water polo program. Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton made the surprise gift announcement in the Wagner Champions Room at Legends Aquatic Center during a dinner event on Oct. 29 honoring Cal's NCAA championship teams in 1990 and 1991.

"Ken's generosity and pride towards Cal is truly incredible and I am excited to see the impact it makes on our water polo program," Knowlton said. "This program has a strong history of excellence and championships and I know that Ken's gift will help that legacy continue." 

Cal men's water polo is regarded as the most successful water polo program in NCAA Division I history, having claimed 15 national titles - by far the most of any program. Its most recent championship came just a few days ago on Dec. 5 with a thrilling 13-12 victory over USC in the title match.
 
Ken hopes his gift will help continue the excellence the team has built, while reaffirming his confidence in Everist, who has played a huge part in the program's success.

Everist said Montgomery's passion for his alma mater "has always been inspiring to me. Players even consider him an honorary member of the squad."

"When Ken talked to me about his planned gift to men's water polo, I was stunned and humbled," Everist said. "Our program is very important to everyone who has had the honor of being part of it. The fact that our team, our program and our culture impacted Ken to this extent is a testimony to every player who has helped build it."

 

Montgomery's passion for all things Cal extends well beyond water polo. He has been a generous supporter of many teams, as well as general campus initiatives, including women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's gymnastics, the Cal Band and, of course, the Cal Mic Men. In fact, it's as the Mic Man that Montgomery first became known to many in the Cal community.

Though Sept. 15, 1990, isn't a particularly memorable day for Cal football, it proved life-changing for Montgomery. While the Golden Bears lost 52-24 to the defending national champion Miami Hurricanes, he rescued the occasion, and as a result etched himself into Cal sports lore.

Stepping out of the student section at California Memorial Stadium, Montgomery made his way to the front of the crowd, commandeered a microphone and rallied the fans to life. "It all started with 'hey, we're here to have a good time!'" he recalled. "I said, 'on three: Go Bears, 1-2-3!' And everybody yelled, 'Go Bears!' It was that simple. We lost, but the crowd was amazing and in that moment, I knew the power of the spirit that had laid dormant in the Cal community for too long."

After the game, hundreds of students, alumni, and others – including players – came up to compliment him, and the following Monday then-athletic director Dave Maggard and then-football coach Bruce Snyder left messages on Montgomery's answering machine thanking him for his spirit and imploring him to continue.

"Being the Mic Man became such a part of my identity, to this day," said Montgomery, whose amplified boosterism continues to turn up at various Cal sporting events on and off campus. "That moment 30 years ago has informed my life in ways I could never have imagined. I've met and connected with so many wonderful people because of it, and it's truly humbling to know I've played a small part in what makes Cal such a special place."

 

Of the $2.7 million commitment to water polo, $2 million will establish the Kirk Everist Men's Water Polo Endowment, a fund that will support coaches and staff salaries. The remaining $700K will establish the Donna Kacerek Men's Water Polo Excellence Fund, which will support programmatic expenses for the program. A UCLA grad, Donna Kacerek (Jeff's mother) passed away in 2014. She was one of the first pediatric nurse practitioners in the world and instrumental in starting the nursing program at Long Beach State University. She was also a strong advocate for higher education, and it was prior to her passing that Donna encouraged Montgomery to return to school to finish his degree, which he had put on pause to pursue professional work. 

Montgomery followed Donna's words and his relationship with Cal water polo strengthened. Everist often had Ken stop by for practice, to speak to the team and even lead them in a cheer during Big Game week.

"Ken's gift will have an incredible impact on the future of Cal men's water polo. It allows us to continue our constant quest for excellence," Everist said. "It will ensure that our program will be able to provide and retain the very best staff to support our incredible student-athletes. It will also allow us to continue to provide our team with the experiences that will not only build champions, but build the character that will last them a lifetime."

Montgomery, who is currently a principal at The Montgomery Vista Group, a technology communications consulting firm, cherishes his Cal experience, both in the classroom and on the sidelines. 

"Earning my degree was not about advancing my career," he noted. "It was about fulfilling a promise to all of the special people in my life who believed in me, and showing them their trust was well placed. I'm proud to be able to say I am officially a graduate of the greatest university in the world!"

Ken's time at Cal made a lasting impact on students back in 1990 and remains true today as he leaves a new mark on the men's water polo program. "I always want to leave a place better for having been there," he said.

"And of course, Fiat Lux and Go Bears!"