(LEBANON, Ill., May 2)—McKendree University director of athletics Chuck Brueggemann announced on Tuesday that Ryan Hall has been hired to become the new head coach of the men's water polo program. The Bearcats' program, which made its debut in the fall of 2016 as a club team, will transition to an NCAA varsity-level program beginning in 2017-18.
 
Hall comes to McKendree following a three-year stint as the assistant coach for men's and women's water polo at the University of Redlands in California. In addition to his coaching duties in practices and matches, Hall helped recruit potential student-athletes for the Bulldogs' program.
 
"Ryan Hall is a great fit to lead our water polo program," said Brueggemann. "He was a highly-successful student-athlete during his playing days at Redlands, and that led to opportunities to play the sport at the professional level. Those experiences helped Ryan make a successful transition into the coaching ranks. His coaching abilities are respected not only by those he worked with at Redlands, but also with his peers within the water polo community. We cannot wait to see Ryan at work here at McKendree as he guides our program into NCAA competition."
 
In his three years as an assistant at Redlands, Hall was able to make an impact on both programs. The Bulldog men's squad reached double-digits in the win column in each of the last three seasons, including an 18-15 ledger in 2016. The women's program recently wrapped up its 2017 campaign in which Redlands posted 10 victories, half of which came in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
 
Along with his coaching duties at Redlands, Hall serves as an associate head coach for the Foothill Water Polo Club. Hall has been able to coach alongside Foothill Club director – and currently men's Olympic Team assistant coach – Alex Rodriguez. In this role Hall has helped prepare team members for national-level tournaments including the Junior Olympics and California Cup (now Futures Water Polo League) Championships. Hall is also involved as an assistant coach for the Los Osos High School girl's team.
 
Hall is certainly no stranger to success at Redlands. He was a standout for the Bulldogs' water polo program, where he earned first-team All-America honors and first-team All-SCIAC accolades in each of his four years with the program. Additionally, he was named the SCIAC Player of the Year back in 2007. Hall's name is prominent in the Bulldogs' record book as he sits third all-time in points (194), fourth in steals (200) and fourth in ejections drawn (160).
 
Following his playing days at Redlands, Hall – a native of Bellevue, Wash. -- competed internationally for the Balmain Sports Club in 2008-09. He was part of the team's 2009 Sydney Champions squad, where he played alongside and learned from Australian Olympic athletes Gavin Woods and James Clark.
 
"I'm very excited and looking forward to this opportunity at McKendree," said Hall. "I've been talking to the guys, conveying my excitement because I believe there are big things ahead for our program. Everyone that I visited with during my interview – from Chuck Brueggemann to other folks in the athletic department – have shown great support for the University, and the water polo program, and that's something I want to be a part of. I cannot wait to get started."
 
The McKendree University men's water polo program made its debut in the fall of 2016 as a club sport, posting a 12-15 overall record while placing 13^th overall at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) National Collegiate Club Championships held in Indiana. Hall has set some lofty expectations for the Bearcats' program as it will begin NCAA competition in the fall.
 
"We're looking forward to the challenge of moving our program to the NCAA level," said Hall. "We believe we have the components where we can compete for a conference championship. My goal is to grow the roster, bring in some student-athletes both locally and from across the country, and even internationally. We want our student-athletes to put McKendree on the map in the world of water polo, and we have a unique opportunity to do that."