Hill, Hughes Announced as Water Polo Assistant Coaches
8/17/2022 2:00:00 PM | Water Polo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan water polo head coach Cassie Churnside announced on Wednesday (Aug. 17) that Sami Hill and Seth Hughes have joined the staff as assistant coaches.
"I am super excited that Sami and Seth are joining the Michigan family," said Churnside. "Both bring such unique skills to this program; it's like having two head coaches next to you, which is what you need to be a successful collegiate program."
"Sami has played water polo at the highest level, where she helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and she played collegiately at UCLA. She knows what it takes to be a world-class goalie and water polo player. I am very excited to have her here with me."
"Seth is one of the best water polo coaches in Utah. He has coached both boys and girls at every level, including at the national level. He will be such a great asset to the team with his abundance of water polo knowledge."
Hill recently coached at her alma mater, Dos Pueblos High School, helming both the boys and girls varsity teams from 2016-2019. During her two seasons with the team, Hill led the squads to back-to-back Channel League Championship titles.
In 2019, Hill made the move to San Diego to coach both the boys and girls at Del Norte High School. Hill also has been the goalies coach for the USA Olympic Development Program.
Hill, an accomplished water polo player, hails from Santa Barbara, Calif. She helped Team USA to gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, 2015 World Championships and 2014, '15, and '16 FINA World League Super Final, 2014 FINA World cup and 2015 Pan American Games.
"I am truly grateful for the opportunity to coach at the collegiate level," said Hill. "I cannot wait to experience everything that the University of Michigan has to offer. Go Blue!"
Hughes, a native of Chicago, Ill., comes to Michigan after coaching at Kearns High School from 2018-2022. He was named women's Coach of the Year in 2018, 19, and 22 and men's Coach of the Year in 2022. Hughes helped the women's team to three state championship titles (2018, '19, '22) and one men's title (2021).
Hughes started coaching at the Olympic Development Program with the Mountain Zone in 2018. He spent two years with the boys development team and two years with the boys youth team. Hughes was awarded the ODP Boys National Championship Youth Coach of the year in 2022 and was chosen to attend the Futures international trip with the youth national team as an assistant coach.
Hughes attended the University of Illinois Chicago, then attended the University of Utah in 2017. At Utah, he joined the club team and was the National Collegiate Club Championship MVP and Men's Collegiate Club Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019.
"Competing with the University of Michigan has been a dream of mine ever since I first stepped foot onto the pool deck of Canham Natatorium," said Hughes. "I couldn't be more grateful to Coach Cassie and the Michigan athletics department for giving me this opportunity, and I am so excited to get to work with the team. Go Blue!"
