Bucknell University Women's Water Polo

Listen to an interview with John McBride on the "You HERD it Here Podcast": John McBride, who served as an assistant coach at Brown the previous seven years, was named the head men’s and women’s water polo coach at Bucknell on May 18, 2011. McBride, a 1992 graduate of Rhode Island who was a four-year starter in goal as a member of the water polo program, also has an extensive background with the U.S. National Team, and for the last two years he has been an assistant coach with the U.S. Senior Men's Team. The squad captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Chile in November 2023, and McBride will be again be on deck with the team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. McBride has guided the Bison men's and women's water polo programs to tremendous success during his tenure in Lewisburg, winning more than 300 games. He led the men’s team to the 2012 Southern Championships title and the program’s first Eastern Championship title game appearance in nearly 20 years. In 2016, McBride led the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985 after winning the MAWPC Championship in Kinney Natatorium. In 2019, McBride led the program to one of its finest seasons in program history after winning its second MAWPC Championship in four years. The Bison went on to defeat previously undefeated Harvard in Cambridge in the NCAA Tournament Play-In game, before bowing out to USC in the national quarterfinals. The win for the Bison in the NCAA Tournament was the first for the program si

Arturo Villalpando was named an assistant coach at Bucknell in February of 2019. Arturo A. Villalpando is a highly accomplished and dedicated Assistant Coach for both the Men's and Women's Water Polo teams. He joined Bucknell University during the 2018-2019 academic year and has since made an indelible mark on both programs, propelling them to unprecedented success. His coaching prowess has been instrumental in achieving numerous milestones for both the men's and women's teams, including leading them to their most successful seasons in program history. Under his guidance, the teams have shattered records for wins in a season and achieved their highest final rankings ever. Coach Villalpando's impact extends beyond the scoreboard, as he has mentored a diverse roster of athletes from around the globe, including Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, France, Canada, South Africa, and Trinidad & Tobago. Notably, he played a pivotal role in the development of Boati Motau, who represented South Africa at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The list of accomplishments during Coach Villalpando's tenure is extensive. For the Men's Team, highlights include two Mid Atlantic Water Polo Conference (MAWPC) Championships, two NCAA Quarterfinal appearances, and numerous individual accolades such as ACWPC All-America selections, MAWPC Player of the Year honors, and Cutino Award recognition. Similarly, the Women's Team has flourished under Coach Villalpando's guidance, achieving their highest finishes