Michigan Hires Chris Vidale as Women’s Water Polo Head Coach
The University of Michigan on Thursday announced the hiring of Chris Vidale to take over as head coach of the women’s water polo program.
Vidale fills a role that has been open since early March when Cassie Churnside resigned. Sami Tai, who remains on staff as an assistant coach, had served in the interim.
Vidale spent 10 seasons leading the women’s team at Marist. He led the Red Foxes to a 194-117 record, with eight 20-win seasons. In 2021, Marist won the MAAC title and made the NCAA Tournament, scoring a first-round win.
“I am honored and excited to be named the head coach of the Michigan water polo program,” Vidale said in a press release. “Michigan represents excellence at the highest level, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead and to serve these young women. My vision is to build a sustainable future that is rooted in connection, trust and daily growth. When people feel valued, connected and united in purpose, everything else starts to follow. Create the right culture, invest in our people and eventually the scoreboard takes care of itself. I’m excited to get to work.”
Vidale was named MAAC Coach of the Year in 2026, with an 8-0 record in the regular season and a march to the MAAC tournament final. He has coached 17 athletes to Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Women’s Division I All-America honorable mention citations.
Vidale coached at Greenwich High School in Connecticut from 2014-16, winning a state title in 2016. He played collegiately at Iona, graduating in 2007, then started his career with the Gaels in 2009, working on the women’s staff until 2016 and the men’s until 2014. He’s been involved in a number of USA Water Polo cadet levels, including on the bronze-medal PanAm Aquatics U-19 Championships in 2024.
Vidale’s wife, Betsey Armstrong, is an Olympic gold medalist for the U.S. in 2012 who in 2018 was the first water polo player inducted to the Michigan Athletics Hall of Honor.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris as the new water polo coach for our program,” Director of Athletics Warde Manuel said. “His leadership, vision and commitment to developing student-athletes in and out of the pool make Chris an outstanding fit for our team. We’re excited for the energy, passion, and championship mindset that he will bring to Ann Arbor as we continue building a strong future for our water polo program.”
