In its first two years as a varsity program, the Michigan water polo team has steadily climbed the collegiate ranks, capped by a fourth-place finish at last spring's NCAA Championships. But if that trend is to continue, it will have to be without the only varsity head coach the school has ever known.

Friday, coach Amber Drury-Pinto resigned her post to take over the head coaching position at the University of California-Berkeley. Her resignation follows the departure of assistant coach Bernice Orwig earlier this summer. Erika Orns, previously the head coach of Michigan State's club team, was already hired to replace Orwig.

"Amber is an outstanding coach, and for us, it's a huge loss," Associate Athletic Director Megan McCallister said. "We've lost someone who did a phenomenal job in building a foundation for a program of national prominence."

To those familiar with the sport, a move out west is not surprising for a coach who has had success on the national level. Water polo is beginning to gain popularity on the East Coast, but for the time being, the traditional powers in the sport remain concentrated in California. The last 19 collegiate champions have all come from the Pacific area. Drury-Pinto also spent much of her water polo career in California.

The team was particularly saddened to learn of her departure. Many players felt they had built a strong bond with Drury-Pinto over the past few years.

"People are upset to see her go," senior utility player Abbi Rowe said. "Not only are you losing a coach, but also a friend."

For Michigan's young program, the next month could be pivotal. If the team is to continue to play catch-up with the West, it needs to find a coach who can keep the program moving in the right direction.

"We will begin a national search for a new coach immediately," McCallister said.

She added that the intent is to find a replacement by the first week in October. The Athletic Department will be looking for an outstanding person who is very committed to academics, and a coach who can bring in students of character.

In the meantime, the team will begin practice without a head coach. As a result, Rowe sees Orns as an important leader in the team's preparation for the upcoming season.

"Erika can set the pace for us," Rowe said. "She's familiar with the territory."

Drury-Pinto was an assistant coach and player at Pomona-Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif. from 1992-1994, where she led the team to back-to-back NCAA Division III Championships. She also won two Division III Player of the Year Awards. Drury-Pinto went on to spend time as a head coach at Long Beach City College and as an assistant with San Diego State.

"I am very excited about having the opportunity to coach at Cal and getting the chance to come back to my home," Drury-Pinto said. "I've enjoyed my time immensely at Michigan and the Midwest, but I'm looking forward to this move. This is a tremendous opportunity and I couldn't be happier."