Former Cal water polo standout Melanie vonHartitzsch begins her first season as an assistant coach for the Golden Bears. vonHartitzsch brings a wealth of experience to the Cal program after competing for the Bears from their inaugural varsity water polo season in 1996 to 1999, helping Cal to three national runner-up finishes and a combined 117-27 record.
A three-year team captain in water polo, vonHartitzsch was also a three-time All-MPSF selection, and a second team All-American and team MVP as a senior in 1999. She finished her Cal career with 113 goals and was a member of the Bears' water polo club team that won the Senior National Championship in the summer of 1998. As a freshman, vonHartitzsch began her Cal athletic career as a member of the women's swim team, before switching over to water polo.
vonHartitzsch was most recently the head girl's water polo coach at Miramonte High School in Moraga, Calif. in 2001 and 2002, and was the coach of the Golden Bear Water Polo Club this past summer.
After earning her undergraduate degree in interdepartmental studies, with a focus in human motivation, in 1999, vonHartitzsch went on to earn a Master's degree from the Cal School of Education in a program called Athletes and Academic Achievement. While completing her Master's, vonHartitzsch also worked for the Cal Athletic Study Center until May of 2002.
