Bucknell University Athletics
Paul Rave Named Interim Head Water Polo Coach at Bucknell
12/3/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
Dec. 3, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - John Abdou, a member of the Bucknell water polo coaching staff for the last six years and the head coach of the men's and women's programs since June 2008, has announced that he will be leaving Bucknell for a coaching position in his native California. Assistant coach Paul Rave has been named interim men's and women's head coach for the remainder of the 2010-11 academic year, upon which time a national search will be conducted to name Abdou's successor.
"I would like to sincerely thank John Abdou for his six years of service to Bucknell Athletics," said director of athletics and recreation John Hardt. "Under John's leadership, Bucknell was able to continue as one of the top programs in Eastern water polo. It is obvious that he is extremely passionate about the sport of water polo and the student-athletes that he coaches. Everyone at Bucknell wishes John the best of luck in all his future endeavors."
"It has been an honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to coach outstanding scholar-athletes here at Bucknell," said Abdou. "Bucknell is a special place that means so much to me on a personal and professional level. I cherish the relationships that I have built here, and I hope they last a lifetime. I am more than confident that the Bison water polo programs are poised for continued success."
 John Abdou guided the Bison men's and women's water polo programs to a combined 108 victories during his time as head coach.  |
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Abdou was named the head men's and women's water polo coach at Bucknell in June 2008 after serving under the titles of assistant coach, associate head coach and interim head coach with the Bison from 2005-08.
In his three years at the helm of the men's program, Abdou helped the Bison to a 47-46 record. Bucknell faced 47 ranked opponents over that span and spent a total of 21 weeks in the national rankings, climbing as high as No. 17. Including his tenure as an assistant coach, the Bison men's program finished in the top five at the Eastern Championship all six years Abdou was associated with the program, including its best finish in 16 years (third) in 2009.
This past fall Abdou earned his first career Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Southern Division Coach of the Year honor on the men's side after leading the Bison to a second-place finish at the Southern Championships, their best showing since 1993.
On the women's side, Abdou earned a Coach of the Year certificate in each of his three years. Bucknell performed admirably during his stint as interim head coach when he led the squad to a program-record 26 victories and a sixth-place showing at the Eastern Championship. Bucknell was nationally ranked for six weeks during the season, climbing as high as No. 19 in the polls, the best ranking in the then decade-long existence of the program.
Abdou continued that momentum over the last two campaigns, helping the Bison to a combined 35-27 mark over that span and a 2010 Southern Division Championship title, the first in program history. Since arriving at Bucknell in the summer of 2005, Abdou helped the Bison women's team post a pair of 20-win campaigns and accumulate an overall record of 99-63 (.617).
Abdou's overall record as head coach of the two Bison programs was 108-83 (.565).
Rave, a 2001 graduate of UC Santa Barbara and a former assistant coach and interim head coach with the Gauchos, has been part of the Bucknell water polo program since 2008. He has served as assistant men's and women's coach, where he has had first-hand experience in all aspects of both programs, including training, recruiting, planning and administrative duties.
While the 2010 men's fall season is now complete, in his interim head coach role Rave will lead the Bison women's squad through its spring championship season while also overseeing the men's offseason training.
Bucknell's 2011 women's water polo schedule kicks off on Feb. 11 with the three-day Bison Invitational at Kinney Natatorium.
