Women's Water Polo
King, Barry
Barry King
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- baking@indiana.edu
Barry King will enter his 19th season at the helm of the Indiana women's water polo program in 2016.
King has brought the Hoosiers from a club squad to a national power in his tenure at the helm of the Hoosiers. In the first 18 years of the program, King has helped IU to six appearances in the national championships, including a Final Four appearance in 2003, a seventh place finish in 2014 and appearances at nationals in each of the Hoosiers' first three seasons as a varsity squad.
Heading into the 2016 campaign, King has an impressive career record of 403-218-2 (.649). The Hoosiers have won 20 games or more in 16 of King’s 18 seasons.
The 2015 season came one goal shy of a back-to-back CWPA Championship and a second consecutive NCAA berth for the Hoosiers. Still, it will go down as one of the most successful seasons on record. The Hoosiers amassed a 23-12 record, which included out-of-conference wins over #9 Princeton, #12 San Diego State, and #20 UC San Diego. They tore through their CWPA schedule with a 9-1 record, on their way to a three-way tie for first place. Their season came to a close in the CWPA Title Game, a 7-6 loss to top-seeded Princeton. The Hoosiers finished the season 11th in the national rankings.
Several players earned recognition after the 2015 season. Freshman Kelly Matthews was named the CWPA Rookie of the Year thanks to her 73-goal debut (IU freshman record). Four Hoosiers picked up All-CWPA honors, and three received All-CWPA Tournament accolades. Hoosier senior Rebecca Gerrity received the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the conference’s award honoring academic and athletic excellence.
The 2014 season was one of the most successful in school history. The team finished seventh place at the NCAA Championships and was crowned the CWPA Champion for the third time (2003, 2011). The Hoosiers won a school record 12 consecutive games leading into the first round of the NCAA tournament. Senior Shae Fournier was named to the ACWPC All-America Second Team, while her and three other Hoosiers (Allison Campbell, Rebecca Gerry, Jessica Gaudreault) garnered CWPA All-Division First Team accolades.
In 2013 Coach King’s won his first ever Coach of the Year award from the CWPA since Indiana joined the conference in 2001. Jakie Kohli, Shae Fournier, and Jesica Gaudreault were all named First-Team all CWPA during the season, marking the first time the Hoosiers have had three First Team All-Conference players in the same year since 2005. 2013 was also the season King led Indiana to their first Western Conference Championship in program history.
In 2012, the Hoosiers marched to a 28-9 record, setting a program record for wins in a season and finished the year ranked No. 14 in the country. Shae Fournier earned First Team All-CWPA and All-American honors thanks in large part to her 95 goals scored, which set a new single-season record at Indiana. Fournier was able to help fill the void left when All-American Jakie Köhli was forced to miss the entire year with an injury. Joining Fournier on the First Team All-CWPA and All-American list was goalkeeper Cassie Wyckoff, who finished her career with 1,108 saves to set a new IU career record.
The 2011 season was a milestone year for King, as he eclipsed the 300 career win plateau and helped lead the Hoosiers to their second NCAA Championship appearance. Indiana finished sixth in the event, while registering the program’s first win at an NCAA Championship with an 11-8 victory over UC San Diego. The squad earned the trip after a thrilling 5-3 victory over rival Michigan in the CWPA Eastern Championship. The Hoosiers finished the season with a No. 9 national ranking and a 26-13 overall mark, tying the program record. Jakie Köhli and Cassie Wyckoff each earned Honorable Mention All-American accolades following the season.
During the 2010 campaign, King led the Hoosiers to a No. 12 national ranking at season’s end, after the squad advanced to the final game of the CWPA Eastern Championship in College Park, Md. Following the tournament, King was named the “Doc Hunkler” Coach of the Tournament. Köhli also became the sixth Hoosier to earn All-American status under King, as she was named to the Honorable Mention by the ACWPC.
In 2009, the Hoosiers had four CWPA All-Division players, as well as 10 CWPA All-Academic selections. In addition, King coached Köhli to the CWPA Western Division Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2008, Indiana earned their sixth 20-win season in their last seven years, going 20-16 on their way to a seventh-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Four Hoosiers landed on the season’s CWPA All-Western Division team, including first team honoree Brooke Zimmerman. Zimmerman also became Indiana’s seventh All-American for her outstanding senior year, in which she set a school record with 77 goals (now fourth – IU history), and eclipsed her 2007 record-setting mark of 56 assists (now second – IU history). King’s offense shattered the team record for single-season goals with 381 (second all-time) and set a still-standing record for team assists (339).
Coach King’s 2007 season culminated with a third-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships after going 19-14 on the year. Indiana received four selections to the CWPA All-Western Division Team—Melissa Soria (first), Brooke Zimmerman (first), Kristen Zernicke (second), and Katie Carson (second).
In 2006, the Hoosiers posted their fifth straight 20-win season, going 24-11 and finishing fifth at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Indiana wrapped up the season with a 10-8 victory over Brown, giving King his 200th career victory.
The 2006 season also saw Indiana land four players on the CWPA’s All-Western Division team, including first teamers Janis Pardy and Brooke Zimmerman and second teamers Melissa Soria and Jackie Pyrz. Indiana went 21-4 over its final 25 contests, and was ranked in the top 20 for much of the season.
Additionally, the Hoosiers continued their success in the classroom in 2006, as five student-athletes were named to the AWCPA All-Academic Team and eight were named Academic All-Big Ten. Junior Kristen Zernicke posted her third straight year as an “Outstanding” selection to the AWCPA team, the highest level of academic honor a player can receive from the association.
In 2005, Indiana posted its fourth straight 20-win season. The Hoosiers went 7-0 in conference play for the first time since 2001. IU spent 14 of 15 weeks ranked among the top 10 programs in the country and finished the year ranked 10th in the country. Additionally, the Hoosiers knocked off five opponents ranked among the national top 10.
The Hoosiers notched their third consecutive 20-win season in 2004, going 20-9 with a third-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Krista Peterson led the way for Indiana in 2004, and her outstanding year resulted in an All-American honorable mention selection. Kandace Waldthaler and Jessica Goldner joined Peterson as Hoosiers with All-Conference accolades. The Hoosiers garnered success in the classroom as well, as seven players picked up ACWPCA All-Academic plaudits. Class of 2004 graduate Melisa Pietras capped her time as a Hoosier by receiving Academic All-American selections in every year of her career.
In 2003, King led the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Final Four appearance by winning the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Championship. The Hoosiers turned some heads at the Final Four, becoming the first Eastern squad to lead a match by taking an early, 1-0 lead over Loyola Marymount. Krista Peterson became the first Eastern player to be named first-team All-Championships, after netting three of the Hoosiers’ four goals at the Final Four.
In 2002, King took the Hoosiers to the Eastern Championships, where they placed third and finished with a 21-14 record.
In perhaps the most intense game of his coaching career, King’s Hoosiers lost a five-overtime battle with rival Michigan that would have advanced IU to the Eastern Championship finals. Indiana went on to defeat Princeton, 11-10, in the consolation match of the championships. The win gave IU a third-place finish, the best in school history at the time.
With club-status wins not being counted toward team records in 2002, King officially passed the 100-career win mark during that campaign, posting his fourth 20-win season in five years.
In 2002, 2004 and 2005, King and his Hoosiers were just shy of advancing to the NCAA Championship. In the middle of those two narrow misses, the Hoosiers advanced to their first NCAA-sponsored Final Four in 2003. The NCAA started sponsoring a national championship in water polo in 2001.
In 2001, King guided the Hoosiers into a new conference, the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), and had the same success as in his first three years. He coached the squad to an 18-12-1 record and a 6-2 record in the CWPA. He led IU to a third-place finish at the CWPA Southern Division Championship and a sixth-place finish at the Eastern Championship. King coached an American Water Polo Coaches Association honorable mention All-American and a first-team All-Eastern Championship Tournament selection in Kristin Stanford. Indiana had seven Academic All-Big Ten selections as well as seven American Water Polo Coaches Association All-Academic Team selections.
In 2000, King’s third year, the Hoosiers finished 20-11, but they had their most successful postseason in the team’s short history. King led the squad to an unprecedented tournament run after it swept its way to the Big Ten crown, as well as an undefeated run to the Midwest Regional crown. The Hoosiers finished 14th at the National Championship, which King and the Hoosiers hosted at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center and the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
In addition to the Big Ten and Midwest Regional titles, King coached the Big Ten and Midwest Regional MVP, a Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection, three All-Midwest Regional selections and two All-Big Ten picks. The story of success continued in the classroom, as eight more players were selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
The 1999 season saw continued success as the team once again earned a berth to the National Championship. King led the team to another 20-win season and a second-place finish at the Big Ten Tournament. The postseason saw King coach the Big Ten MVP and the Midwest Regional MVP in two-time All-American Deb Simone. King also had five All-Midwest Regional selections and six All-Big Ten team selections play for his squad. Success was not confined to the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center, as 11 Hoosiers were selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team for the 1999 season.
In 1998, IU’s first season as a varsity program, the Hoosiers earned a program-record 26 wins, a Midwest Regional Championship and a trip to the National Championship. King also had five All-Big Ten selections, an honorable mention All-American and three All-Midwest Regional selections play for his squad, and also coached the Midwest Regional MVP. The team finished second at the Big Ten Tournament to arch-rival Michigan and 12th at the National Championship.
The Madera, Calif., native earned his Bachelor of Arts in athletic counseling (1988) and Master of Arts in exercise physiology (1996) from Fresno State.
Before coming to Indiana to work on a doctorate in exercise physiology, King coached men’s and women’s water polo at Madera High School (1987-88), freshman boys basketball at Clovis High School (1986-88) and varsity swimming at San Joaquin Memorial High School.
He also coached Indiana’s club water polo team for three years before it earned varsity status.
Barry, his wife, Mindy, and their two sons, Creighton and Aidan, reside in Bloomington.
King has brought the Hoosiers from a club squad to a national power in his tenure at the helm of the Hoosiers. In the first 18 years of the program, King has helped IU to six appearances in the national championships, including a Final Four appearance in 2003, a seventh place finish in 2014 and appearances at nationals in each of the Hoosiers' first three seasons as a varsity squad.
Heading into the 2016 campaign, King has an impressive career record of 403-218-2 (.649). The Hoosiers have won 20 games or more in 16 of King’s 18 seasons.
The 2015 season came one goal shy of a back-to-back CWPA Championship and a second consecutive NCAA berth for the Hoosiers. Still, it will go down as one of the most successful seasons on record. The Hoosiers amassed a 23-12 record, which included out-of-conference wins over #9 Princeton, #12 San Diego State, and #20 UC San Diego. They tore through their CWPA schedule with a 9-1 record, on their way to a three-way tie for first place. Their season came to a close in the CWPA Title Game, a 7-6 loss to top-seeded Princeton. The Hoosiers finished the season 11th in the national rankings.
Several players earned recognition after the 2015 season. Freshman Kelly Matthews was named the CWPA Rookie of the Year thanks to her 73-goal debut (IU freshman record). Four Hoosiers picked up All-CWPA honors, and three received All-CWPA Tournament accolades. Hoosier senior Rebecca Gerrity received the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the conference’s award honoring academic and athletic excellence.
The 2014 season was one of the most successful in school history. The team finished seventh place at the NCAA Championships and was crowned the CWPA Champion for the third time (2003, 2011). The Hoosiers won a school record 12 consecutive games leading into the first round of the NCAA tournament. Senior Shae Fournier was named to the ACWPC All-America Second Team, while her and three other Hoosiers (Allison Campbell, Rebecca Gerry, Jessica Gaudreault) garnered CWPA All-Division First Team accolades.
In 2013 Coach King’s won his first ever Coach of the Year award from the CWPA since Indiana joined the conference in 2001. Jakie Kohli, Shae Fournier, and Jesica Gaudreault were all named First-Team all CWPA during the season, marking the first time the Hoosiers have had three First Team All-Conference players in the same year since 2005. 2013 was also the season King led Indiana to their first Western Conference Championship in program history.
In 2012, the Hoosiers marched to a 28-9 record, setting a program record for wins in a season and finished the year ranked No. 14 in the country. Shae Fournier earned First Team All-CWPA and All-American honors thanks in large part to her 95 goals scored, which set a new single-season record at Indiana. Fournier was able to help fill the void left when All-American Jakie Köhli was forced to miss the entire year with an injury. Joining Fournier on the First Team All-CWPA and All-American list was goalkeeper Cassie Wyckoff, who finished her career with 1,108 saves to set a new IU career record.
The 2011 season was a milestone year for King, as he eclipsed the 300 career win plateau and helped lead the Hoosiers to their second NCAA Championship appearance. Indiana finished sixth in the event, while registering the program’s first win at an NCAA Championship with an 11-8 victory over UC San Diego. The squad earned the trip after a thrilling 5-3 victory over rival Michigan in the CWPA Eastern Championship. The Hoosiers finished the season with a No. 9 national ranking and a 26-13 overall mark, tying the program record. Jakie Köhli and Cassie Wyckoff each earned Honorable Mention All-American accolades following the season.
During the 2010 campaign, King led the Hoosiers to a No. 12 national ranking at season’s end, after the squad advanced to the final game of the CWPA Eastern Championship in College Park, Md. Following the tournament, King was named the “Doc Hunkler” Coach of the Tournament. Köhli also became the sixth Hoosier to earn All-American status under King, as she was named to the Honorable Mention by the ACWPC.
In 2009, the Hoosiers had four CWPA All-Division players, as well as 10 CWPA All-Academic selections. In addition, King coached Köhli to the CWPA Western Division Rookie of the Year Award.
In 2008, Indiana earned their sixth 20-win season in their last seven years, going 20-16 on their way to a seventh-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Four Hoosiers landed on the season’s CWPA All-Western Division team, including first team honoree Brooke Zimmerman. Zimmerman also became Indiana’s seventh All-American for her outstanding senior year, in which she set a school record with 77 goals (now fourth – IU history), and eclipsed her 2007 record-setting mark of 56 assists (now second – IU history). King’s offense shattered the team record for single-season goals with 381 (second all-time) and set a still-standing record for team assists (339).
Coach King’s 2007 season culminated with a third-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships after going 19-14 on the year. Indiana received four selections to the CWPA All-Western Division Team—Melissa Soria (first), Brooke Zimmerman (first), Kristen Zernicke (second), and Katie Carson (second).
In 2006, the Hoosiers posted their fifth straight 20-win season, going 24-11 and finishing fifth at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Indiana wrapped up the season with a 10-8 victory over Brown, giving King his 200th career victory.
The 2006 season also saw Indiana land four players on the CWPA’s All-Western Division team, including first teamers Janis Pardy and Brooke Zimmerman and second teamers Melissa Soria and Jackie Pyrz. Indiana went 21-4 over its final 25 contests, and was ranked in the top 20 for much of the season.
Additionally, the Hoosiers continued their success in the classroom in 2006, as five student-athletes were named to the AWCPA All-Academic Team and eight were named Academic All-Big Ten. Junior Kristen Zernicke posted her third straight year as an “Outstanding” selection to the AWCPA team, the highest level of academic honor a player can receive from the association.
In 2005, Indiana posted its fourth straight 20-win season. The Hoosiers went 7-0 in conference play for the first time since 2001. IU spent 14 of 15 weeks ranked among the top 10 programs in the country and finished the year ranked 10th in the country. Additionally, the Hoosiers knocked off five opponents ranked among the national top 10.
The Hoosiers notched their third consecutive 20-win season in 2004, going 20-9 with a third-place finish at the CWPA Eastern Championships. Krista Peterson led the way for Indiana in 2004, and her outstanding year resulted in an All-American honorable mention selection. Kandace Waldthaler and Jessica Goldner joined Peterson as Hoosiers with All-Conference accolades. The Hoosiers garnered success in the classroom as well, as seven players picked up ACWPCA All-Academic plaudits. Class of 2004 graduate Melisa Pietras capped her time as a Hoosier by receiving Academic All-American selections in every year of her career.
In 2003, King led the Hoosiers to their first NCAA Final Four appearance by winning the Collegiate Water Polo Association Eastern Championship. The Hoosiers turned some heads at the Final Four, becoming the first Eastern squad to lead a match by taking an early, 1-0 lead over Loyola Marymount. Krista Peterson became the first Eastern player to be named first-team All-Championships, after netting three of the Hoosiers’ four goals at the Final Four.
In 2002, King took the Hoosiers to the Eastern Championships, where they placed third and finished with a 21-14 record.
In perhaps the most intense game of his coaching career, King’s Hoosiers lost a five-overtime battle with rival Michigan that would have advanced IU to the Eastern Championship finals. Indiana went on to defeat Princeton, 11-10, in the consolation match of the championships. The win gave IU a third-place finish, the best in school history at the time.
With club-status wins not being counted toward team records in 2002, King officially passed the 100-career win mark during that campaign, posting his fourth 20-win season in five years.
In 2002, 2004 and 2005, King and his Hoosiers were just shy of advancing to the NCAA Championship. In the middle of those two narrow misses, the Hoosiers advanced to their first NCAA-sponsored Final Four in 2003. The NCAA started sponsoring a national championship in water polo in 2001.
In 2001, King guided the Hoosiers into a new conference, the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), and had the same success as in his first three years. He coached the squad to an 18-12-1 record and a 6-2 record in the CWPA. He led IU to a third-place finish at the CWPA Southern Division Championship and a sixth-place finish at the Eastern Championship. King coached an American Water Polo Coaches Association honorable mention All-American and a first-team All-Eastern Championship Tournament selection in Kristin Stanford. Indiana had seven Academic All-Big Ten selections as well as seven American Water Polo Coaches Association All-Academic Team selections.
In 2000, King’s third year, the Hoosiers finished 20-11, but they had their most successful postseason in the team’s short history. King led the squad to an unprecedented tournament run after it swept its way to the Big Ten crown, as well as an undefeated run to the Midwest Regional crown. The Hoosiers finished 14th at the National Championship, which King and the Hoosiers hosted at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center and the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis.
In addition to the Big Ten and Midwest Regional titles, King coached the Big Ten and Midwest Regional MVP, a Big Ten All-Tournament Team selection, three All-Midwest Regional selections and two All-Big Ten picks. The story of success continued in the classroom, as eight more players were selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team.
The 1999 season saw continued success as the team once again earned a berth to the National Championship. King led the team to another 20-win season and a second-place finish at the Big Ten Tournament. The postseason saw King coach the Big Ten MVP and the Midwest Regional MVP in two-time All-American Deb Simone. King also had five All-Midwest Regional selections and six All-Big Ten team selections play for his squad. Success was not confined to the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center, as 11 Hoosiers were selected to the Academic All-Big Ten team for the 1999 season.
In 1998, IU’s first season as a varsity program, the Hoosiers earned a program-record 26 wins, a Midwest Regional Championship and a trip to the National Championship. King also had five All-Big Ten selections, an honorable mention All-American and three All-Midwest Regional selections play for his squad, and also coached the Midwest Regional MVP. The team finished second at the Big Ten Tournament to arch-rival Michigan and 12th at the National Championship.
The Madera, Calif., native earned his Bachelor of Arts in athletic counseling (1988) and Master of Arts in exercise physiology (1996) from Fresno State.
Before coming to Indiana to work on a doctorate in exercise physiology, King coached men’s and women’s water polo at Madera High School (1987-88), freshman boys basketball at Clovis High School (1986-88) and varsity swimming at San Joaquin Memorial High School.
He also coached Indiana’s club water polo team for three years before it earned varsity status.
Barry, his wife, Mindy, and their two sons, Creighton and Aidan, reside in Bloomington.
FB: Elijah Sarratt Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB: Roman Hemby Media Availability (9/9/25)
Tuesday, September 09
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 2 (Kennesaw State)
Thursday, September 04
FB: D'Angelo Ponds Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
