Coralie Simmons
Head Coach
Coralie Simmons begins her first season as head coach of the Sonoma State women's water polo team in 2008. Previously an assistant at UCLA and the University of Hawaii, Simmons brings a wealth of national and international experience to Sonoma State's water polo program.
A two-time National Player of the Year at UCLA, Simmons guided the Bruins to their fourth national title in 2001 (in the inaugural NCAA title match). She was the recipient of the Pete Cutino Award, given annually to the top NCAA male and female players, and earned NCAA Tournament MVP honors.
Simmons sat out the 2000 season as a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, and helped the United States bring home a silver medal at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She tied for the team lead in scoring with nine goals at the Games. Simmons helped the U.S. National Team qualify for the Olympic Games in the World Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament in Italy, scoring a team-leading eight goals.
In 1999, Simmons redshirted the season to compete with the U.S. Women's National Team. She helped the United States capture a silver medal at the Pan-American Games that summer, and Simmons became the only team member to record a goal in all six Pan-Am Games (she also led the U.S. squad with 10 total goals).
Simmons was named the National Collegiate Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998. The Hemet, Calif., native earned All-America first-team honors, All-MPSF first-team accolades and first-team National Collegiate Championship honors in 1998 when she led the team with a school-record 74 goals in 115 attempts and posted a team-best 64 percent shooting average. In the national title game, Simmons scored three goals to help UCLA defeat California (May 10, 1998).
As a sophomore in 1997, Simmons collected MPSF Southern Division Player of the Year honors, in addition to earning All-MPSF Tournament first-team accolades. She tied her previous single-season school record for goals with 60 and netted points in 28 of 32 matches that season (15 multiple-scoring games). Simmons tallied two goals in the championship match versus California that season.
In her first season at UCLA, Simmons earned All-America first-team accolades and led the Bruins in all offensive categories. She was selected to the 1996 National Collegiate Championship first-team all-tournament team. Simmons assembled a 10-game scoring streak through the Western Regional Qualifying Tournament and National Collegiate Championships.
Simmons earned a degree in geography/environmental studies at UCLA.
E-mail Coach Simmons at
coraliesimmons@yahoo.com
Alicia Hansel
Volunteer Assistant Coach
Alicia Hansel enters her third year as head coach of the Sonoma State water polo team in 2006. Hansel has led the Seawolves to a 35-33 overall record over the last three seasons. The Seawolves finished 10th in the Western Water Polo Association in 2004 and 5th in the WWPA in 2005 under Hansel’s guidance. Hansel also coached the Seawolves first All-American (Chelsea Hennan) in 2005.
Before becoming head coach at Sonoma State, Hansel was a volunteer head coach of the Sonoma State club team since January 2003.
Prior to coming to SSU, Hansel assisted with the Merced Community College team from 1998-2002 and coached at Golden Valley High School in Merced, most recently in 2000.
A four-time All-American and team captain in her playing days at UC Berkeley, Hansel is using her vast experience to mold the Seawolves into a prominent water polo program. While a member of the UC Berkeley team, Hansel played for Maureen O’Toole, a legend in women’s water polo circles. She also became invovled with the development of Student-Athlete programs and athletic fundraising.
Prior to playing at UC Berkeley, Hansel played at Merced Community College, where she was also named a junior college All-American in 1994.
Chelsea Hennan
Assistant Coach
Chlsea Hennan joins the Sonoma State coaching staff after an impressive Seawolf playing career. A transfer to Sonoma State, Hennan was a two-year standout at SSU in its two best years of competition
In 2005 Hennan was selected First Team All-American by the Water Polo Coaches Association. She was the first water polo player in school history to earn All-America status. All-America was nothing new to Hennan, while at Santa Rosa Junior College she was a Junior College All-American.
Hennan left an impression on the SSU record books as well. She shares the record for most goals in a single game, 5, which she set against Cal State East Bay in 2005. She ranks second in shot attempts, goals scored and field blocks; fifth in kick outs; and ninth in steals in a season. For her career she ranks second in shot attempts, goals scored, and field blocks; fourth in kick outs; and eighth in steals.
In 2005 Hennan led the team in goals scored, goals per game and attempts. Eleven times she led the offense in scoring for a game. For her career she scored a team game-high in goals 19 times.
