HONOLULU – Ryan Castle joined the University of Hawai`i women's water polo program as an associate coach in Septmember in 2014. The native of South Africa boasts extensive experience at the international level, while also serving as a collegiate coach in the U.S. for the last eight years.
“I'm excited to welcome Ryan Castle to the Rainbow Wahine water polo family,” Cole said. “He brings with him a high level of experience and a great attitude. He’s a perfect fit for our program and I’m looking forward to working with him in what should be a very exciting season.”
Castle has been an assistant coach at three other schools, most recently at the University of Michigan during the 2014 campaign. Last season the Wolverines finished with a 21-12 mark. Prior to arriving at Michigan, Castle served three seasons as an assistant coach at Hartwick College (2010-13), where he contributed to an 83-37 record during his tenure. In 2013 the Hawks posted a 29-13 mark, claimed the CWPA Western Division regular-season title and took fourth place at the Eastern Championship.
Castle also previously served as an assistant coach at Arizona State (2007-10). In 2008, he helped guide the Sun Devils to its most wins (21) and highest national ranking (No. 4) in program history at the time. As the head coach for the ASU men's club team (2007-10), he also led the Sun Devils to a third-place finish at the National Collegiate Club Championships later that fall.
Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Castle has been involved with international water polo at both the junior and senior levels. As the head coach of the Kazakhstan Women's Senior National Team, he led the squad to a 13th place at the 2011 FINA World Championships in Shanghai, China, matching the fourth greatest finish in the country's history. The team was also ranked as high as 10th in the world during his tenure.
He has also served an assistant coach with the South African Women’s Senior National Team (2003-05, '11) and the head coach of the 2004 National 'B' Team. In 2003, he served as head coach of the South African Women's Junior National Team, while also assisting with the men's junior team. In 2009 he was the video coordinator for New Zealand Women’s Senior National Team.
Castle graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in information systems and earned a post graduate credential in education in 2003.
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