It was an unseasonably warm day in March, and Michigan water polo coach Matt Anderson was out with his team while it ran laps around the soccer field.

"All the snow had just melted, and there was this big puddle of mud," said freshman Megan Hausmann, remembering the incident. "And he said to Rachel (Burkons), 'You don't have to come to morning practice tomorrow if you dive head first into that puddle.' And Rachel just ran face first and plopped into it. Then Matt said, 'Anybody else not want to go to morning practice?' "

After this tempting invitation, Anderson's entire team proceeded to dive into the mud puddle, not caring what mess awaited them.

"The killer part is that Matt did it too!" senior Delia Sonda said. "He went back to (his office) and changed clothes just so he could dive in the mud with us."

Anybody who knows Anderson well would not be surprised that this 37-year-old man would jump at the chance to share in his team's romp in the mud. He's the kind of guy who will one minute have his team doing practices that would rival the USA National Team and the next will jump in the pool with them, splashing around with foam noodles and telling jokes.

"He has the potential to make people blossom," sophomore Sheetal Narsai said. "He finds lots of potential in people and helps them grow as a player."

The Road to Ann Arbor

Hired last November, after former coach Amber Drury-Pinto left to take charge of the University of California-Berkeley water polo program, Anderson has had an enormously positive impact on the team in his first season at Michigan.

"I am truly blessed that I am able to interact with these (players)," said Anderson about becoming the new Michigan coach. "I just want to allow them to enjoy their college experience."

But Anderson's water polo days began long before he reached his ultimate goal of becoming a collegiate head coach.

Born in West Germany where his father was stationed in the Air Force, Anderson then endured six moves across the U.S. until finally settling in San Diego.

Anderson was first introduced to water polo in high school when he played on club teams in the summer. A couple years later, when his college roommate at San Jose State asked if he would join the school's team with him, he didn't hesitate to sign on.

Although San Jose State's team had just been bumped from varsity status to club because of Title IX, the team still had the privilege to play against other varsity teams and even the national team.

By senior year, Anderson's coach, Vaughn Kublecheck, saw potential in him to become a successful coach, too, and suggested that he start at the high school level. Anderson, who was planning on beginning a career in journalism, decided to take Kublecheck's advice and began coaching a high school team.

"I was going to be the next great sports reporter," said Anderson jokingly, "but that all changed (when I began coaching water polo)."

For the next 10 years, Anderson continued to coach at high schools in California, until 2000 when he jumped up to the collegiate level as assistant coach for his alma mater, San Jose State. A year later, he made a much bigger move - across the country to join Indiana's program as assistant coach.

After just one season, the opportunity of being head coach at Michigan presented itself, and Anderson beat out several other candidates to earn his spot in Ann Arbor.

"I think very highly of Matt," Indiana coach Barry King said. "I think it speaks volumes on his coaching ability that he was only at IU for one year as an assistant and now he is the head coach of a team that went to the NCAA Championships last year."

The Right Man for the Job

Michigan Associate Athletic Director Megan McCallister, who was instrumental in Anderson's hiring, said he stood out as being the highest qualified person for the job.

"Matt has worked with outstanding coaches," McCallister said. "He has worked with very successful programs in USA water polo and collegiate games. I spoke to many other coaches, and he was always mentioned as one of the top teachers of the game."

Anderson has not only impressed Michigan's athletic department, but also the players he's coached this season.

Older team members who have been around long enough to see the team through two other coaches will tell you that Anderson is the ideal leader, combining the people-skills of former coach Scott Russell and the water polo expertise of Drury-Pinto.

"I think that Matt is more of a complete package," Sonda said. "He's the best coach that we've had."

Anderson's knowledge of the game is extensive, as he has coached at all levels and had the chance to study with some of the nation's best water polo players.