June 23, 2005
BERKELEY -
Amber Drury-Pinto has been relieved of her duties as the University of California's head women's water polo coach, Golden Bear Athletic Director Sandy Barbour announced Thursday.
"We are grateful for Amber's hard work with the program over the past three seasons," Barbour said. "She has handled her position with a high degree of class and professionalism. However, we have not attained the competitive goals we have set for the program, and it is my belief that we needed to make a change."
Named Cal's head coach in September 2002, Drury Pinto compiled a 49-31 record in three seasons in Berkeley, including an 18-10 mark this past year when she guided the Bears to a fifth-place finish in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament. Although Cal ranked among the nation's Top 10 each season under Drury-Pinto - with a No. 6 standing in 2005 - the Bears did not advance to the NCAA championship playoffs during her tenure.
Prior to accepting the Cal position, Drury-Pinto was 46-24-1 in two years as head coach at Michigan, with a berth in the 2002 NCAA field.
Barbour indicated that a national search for a new coach would begin immediately. She did not indicate a specific timetable for the hiring.
