U.S. water polo coach wants drought to end

Terry Schroeder had always wanted to do one thing: coach the men's U.S. Olympic water polo team. But when the opportunity arose, Schroeder wasn't sure the timing was right. As Helene Elliott writes, that was 13 months ago, and Ricardo Azevedo had been fired as coach and the team was in turmoil. Schroeder, the assistant coach, decided to take the job. His first goal? "Just to try to keep everybody calm and focused and stabilize the program at that point," he said.

It has been 20 years since the U.S. medaled in this sport, and he hopes that will change in Beijing. Read the rest of Helene's column.

Photo: Terry Schroeder oversees a practice session at California Lutheran University's Samelson Aquatics Center. Credit: Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times