Rock Water Polo History
Rock water polo dates back to the 1970’s when Richard “Doc” Hunkler formed the fist team in 1973. Hunkler, a Texas A&M Alum, came to Slippery Rock as a professor of the Computer Science department. Hunkler held the reins as head coach for 24 years stepping down after the 1998 women’s season. Throughout his years as coach, Hunkler brought the men’s team to national prominence, including a National Championship run in 1983. In 1995 Hunkler brought the women’s team to national prominence by becoming the only non California team, men’s or women’s, to win the NCAA national championship; which still holds true today. He helped the teams grow to the varsity level in the 1991-1992 seasons. As varsity coach, Hunkler compiled a combined record of 264 wins and 62 losses from 1991-1998. Hunkler is quick to point out that the teams never had a losing season while under his guidance.
After “Doc” Hunkler stepped down from his position he was inducted into the Collegiate Water Polo Association Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class of 2002. Hunkler is just one of five Rock water polo alums to be inducted into the CWPA Hall of Fame. Others include Lynn Comer Kachmarik, John Barrett, Sue Bow-Kolczak, and 1995 player of the year Robbie Larson-Bova.
In1998 former player and SRU alum, Jim Yeamans, took over as head coach. Yeamans began his career with Rock water polo in 1979 as a player. In 1983 Yeamans left the Rock to become the coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In 1998 Yeamans returned to the Rock to replace his former coach, “Doc” Hunkler. Yeamans has served as the Rock’s head coach for both the men and women for ten years, 1998-2008; compiling a combined record of 269 wins and 225 losses with one tie. Yeamans saw the most success in the final year of the men’s varsity season. In 2005 the Rock men’s team went 23-7 and qualified for the Eastern Division Championships at Harvard University in Boston, Mass. The men finished the 2005 season with a top 20 national ranking. The men’s team was discontinued after the 2005 season as part of the athletic cuts made in January of 2006. The women’s team was discontinued following the 2008 season.
