LA JOLLA, Calif. – After more than four decades of service to UC San Diego – including the last 42 as the head men's water polo coach – Denny Harper has announced that he will retire effective July 1. On the heels of Harper's decision, Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards has named former Triton standout Matthew Ustaszewski '04 the program's new head coach.
 
"I would like to acknowledge the athletic department, especially Athletic Directors Judy Sweet and Earl Edwards, as well as UC San Diego's previous head coach Russ Hafferkamp," Harper said. "They have been incredibly supportive of the program. We couldn't have achieved the level of success we have had without their unwavering belief in water polo at UC San Diego."
 
Harper began his UC San Diego career in 1980 and was national Coach of the Year on 17 occasions. He coached 107 All-Americans, earning 697 career victories while coaching the Triton men and another 245 while serving as the women's head coach – a post he held from 1983 through 1999. During his tenure as women's head coach, the Tritons won five national titles.
 
"Thank you to the incredible scholar-athletes, who have represented our university with such integrity and pride," Harper added. "Thank you to the unbelievably dedicated alums, who have supported us so passionately throughout the years. Thanks to the amazing families, including my own, who have brought out the best in our water polo program."
 
"I want to thank Denny for his tremendous leadership and unparalleled success in guiding our water polo program for more than forty years," said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. "He has proven to be a sound leader and has built one of the nation's premier programs. In addition to developing scholar-athletes, he has cultivated relationships with alumni who have developed a life-long affinity for UC San Diego."
 
With Harper's retirement, Edwards has tapped associate head coach Matt Ustaszewski to guide the program forward, beginning July 1. A former team captain, "Usha" joined Harper's staff as an assistant coach in 2010 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2013. During his tenure on the UC San Diego staff, he has recruited and coached 33 NCAA All-Americans, eight NCAA Players of the Year, and five conference tournament MVPs.
 
The NCAA's longest-tenured assistant coach, Ustaszewski also serves on the staff for Team USA. A member of USA Men's Water Polo staff since 2018, he was on-site during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
 
"I'd like to thank Athletic Director Earl Edwards, Deputy Director of Athletics Wendy Taylor May, and obviously, Head Coach Denny Harper," Ustaszewski said. "Their belief in me – and our scholar-athletes – aligns with our program's traditions and history of success. I look forward to continuing Denny's legacy, in creating the best atmosphere for our scholar-athletes to achieve their academic and athletic goals."
 
"In Usha, we are fortunate to have a great leader already on staff," Edwards explained. "He has long been sought after in the water polo community. We are confident he will build upon the foundation Denny has laid and propel this storied program to even greater heights."
 
In 2021, UC San Diego posted a 14-10 overall record with a 6-2 mark in the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA), reaching the conference semifinal.
 
UC San Diego will host the NCAA Championships in 2024 at Canyonview Aquatic Center.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.