Ricardo Azevedo

Ricardo (Rico) Azevedo
Azevedo in US Olympic warm-up
Biographical details
Born (1956-08-24) August 24, 1956
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Playing career
1974-1977Brazilian National Team
1975, 1977Long Beach City College
1977-1979Long Beach State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1980-1998Woodrow Wilson High
1999-2005Long Beach State
1996, 2000, 2004US Nat. Team Asst. Coach
2005-2006US National Team Head Coach
2007-2008RN ElettroGreen Camogli
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
'02 MPSF Water Polo Coach of Year
(LBS Women)

Ricardo Azevedo (born August 24, 1956) was a Brazilian water polo player who served on the Brazilian National Team. After playing water polo for Long Beach State, he is best known as a professional water polo coach who coached Long Beach State from 1999-2005, and served as an Assistant coach to the US National Olympic team in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He served briefly as Head Coach in 2005. He coached the Italian Club team, RN ElettroGreen Camogli in 2007-8, and later coached the Chinese Men's and Women's National teams.

Playing career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 24, 1956, Azevedo played on the Brazilian National Water Polo Team from 1974 to 1977. He was a member of the Brazilian Water Polo team at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. He was twice voted Brazil's "Player of the Year". In 1976, the Brazilian team won the gold medal in the South American Games.[1][2]

Collegiate water polo

Azevedo attended Long Beach City College from 1975-1977, where he was named the Most Valuable Player for his College, his Conference, and for Southern California. While at City College, he received the honor of Junior College All American.[3] After transferring, Azevedo received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach in 1980, playing for Long Beach State from 1977-1979.[1][2]

Coaching

After his playing career, Azevedo became a water polo coach and is now considered one the premier coaches in the world. Azevedo coached the strong program at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School from around 1980-1998, leading the team to a title in the California Interscholastic Federation in 1998.[4]

US National Team

He was an Assistant Coach for the USA Men's Water Polo Team in the Olympic years 1996, 2000, and 2004, and started as Head Coach in 2005. He coached the USA Junior Team, and coached at Long Beach State University from 1999-2005, where he amassed a record of 107-96.[1].

European club teams

Azevedo became head coach of RN ElettroGreen Camogli in 2007, unexpectedly leading his young team to the division Championship title game in 2008. Azevedo speaks English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Chinese.[4]

Chinese National team

He coached and trained the Chinese Men's National Team in 2011. Training consisted of 6-8 hour practices a day, The team had height with six players over 6' 5", with an average height of 6' 3". At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Azevedo served as the head coach of the Chinese Men's Water Polo National team.[5][6]

He later coached the Chinese Women's National Water Polo Team, leading them to the 2016 Rio Olympics where they placed seventh, though only eight countries participated. The Chinese women's team had a disappointing Olympics, losing to Hungary 13-11, the United States 12-4, and Spain 12-8, and did not make the quarterfinals.[2]

Return to Brazilian National team

Azevedo returned to his native country where he was the Brazilian Water Polo Team's Technical director from 2017-2019.[1]

Marriage and Family

Azevedo met his wife Libby when he was an exchange student at Long Beach State, and they were married in 1980.

Azevedo has coached several Olympians, including his son Tony Azevedo who was a four-time All American and NCAA Player of the Year at Stanford University and served as Captain of the Men's Water Polo Team for the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2012 Summer Olympics. Tony was on the US Olympic team in 2000, and 2004. Ricardo's daughter Cassie was a two-time All-American water polo player at Long Beach State.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Moraes, Luiza, April 7, 2005, California State Long Beach, "Former Head Coach Ricardo Azevedo Inducted to the USA Water Polo Hall Of Fame"". Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Olympedia Biography, Rick Azevedo". Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Long Beach City College, Ricardo Azevedo, Profile". Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "USA Water Polo Hall of Fame". Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  5. ↑ Trevor Freeman, Interview with Ricardo Azevedo Men's Coach of China, Water Polo Planet, July 15, 2012
  6. ↑ "Coach Azevedo, Next Stop, China!". Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Ricardo Azevedo new head coach in Camogli". Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
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