The men’s water polo team celebrated head coach Rick Rowland’s 500th win as a coach at California Baptist University in a ceremony during the Lancer Invite Sept. 19.
During the ceremony, Dr. Micah Parker, director of Athletics, presented Rowland with a water polo ball signed by all of the players from the men’s water polo team.
Rowland has been working at CBU for 17 years and is currently coaching his 16th season. During his first year with CBU, the construction of the Aquatic Center was coming to a close, which gave Rowland only a year to recruit swimmers and water polo players. Over the years, Rowland has coached both men’s and women’s water polo, as well as the men’s and women’s swim teams.
The 500th win for Rowland was claimed at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Sept. 13 when the men’s water polo team beat St. Francis College.
Despite his many victories, Rowland said he does not focus on past games.
“The focus is each game; you take each game one at a time,” Rowland said.
Joseph Moorman, sophomore political science major and goalie for the water polo team, said Rowland is more than a coach.
“(Rowland) is just an all-around good role model and a good person to look up to — a good man of God,” Moorman said.
