A memorial for legendary U.S. Olympic men’s water polo coach Monte Nitzkowski will be held Saturday at the Long Beach City College Hall of Champions Gymnasium at 1 p.m., USA Water Polo announced.
Nitzkowski, a Huntington Beach High graduate, died July 28 at age 86 after a battle with cancer.
He was a three-time Olympic coach who guided the U.S. men to an Olympic silver medal at the 1984 Games and a bronze in 1972. He also was an Olympic swimmer for the United States in 1952.
Nitzkowski’s coaching career also included a storied run in water polo and swimming at Long Beach City.
Former Newport Harbor coach Bill Barnett called Nitzkowski the “best water polo coach the United States has ever had.” He also was known as an innovator and ambassador for the sport.
Guests for the memorial can RSVP their attendance by emailing bbradley262@aol.com.
Please send water polo news to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter
