Outstanding Alumni Athlete
Olympian, championship coach and lifelong Anteater, Daniel Klatt ’01 is this year’s recipient of UC Irvine’s Outstanding Alumni Athlete Award.
As an undergraduate at UC Irvine, he competed in men’s water polo and swimming, earning All-America honors in water polo in 1998 and 2000 and serving as the water polo team’s captain. In 1999, he also won Big West championships in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and was named UC Irvine’s most valuable swimmer.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in social science in 2001, Daniel continued competing in water polo at the highest levels of the sport. A member of the U.S. National Team from 1997 to 2004, he represented the United States at international competitions around the world. He reached the sport’s biggest stage as a member of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Water Polo Team in Athens.
His next chapter brought him back to UC Irvine.
Daniel became head coach of the women’s water polo program in 2004 and now serves as UC Irvine’s director of water polo, leading both the women’s and the men’s programs. Under his leadership, the women have won nine Big West regular-season titles and nine conference tournament championships, made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, and produced dozens of All-Americans. He has been named Big West Coach of the Year nine times.
Since taking over the men’s program in 2022, Daniel has led the Anteaters to two Big West regular-season championships, a conference tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 30 years.
His impact extends far beyond Irvine.
As an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team, Daniel helped guide Team USA to three consecutive Olympic gold medals – in London, Rio and Tokyo. He has also led U.S. junior and university teams to international gold medals and coached Tara Prentice, UC Irvine’s first female water polo Olympian.
Daniel’s career is a true full-circle Anteater story: A student-athlete who found his chance at UC Irvine now pays it forward. He has spent more than two decades creating opportunities for others, building programs where athletes can compete at the highest levels on national and international stages.
“Dan doesn't just coach here, he belongs here. He is the living definition of an Anteater for Life, and his legacy will be felt in the lives of every student-athlete fortunate enough to call him their coach.”
Join us as we honor this year’s distinguished recipients and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Anteater community.
