Todd Clapper Recognized as 2020-21 Frank Kush Award Winner

Press release from The Sun Devils:

June 24, 2021

After a year of uncertainty, some fanless venues, COVID testing daily and some outstanding efforts by staff and student-athletes, the head coaches at Arizona State came together to name the third recipient of the Frank Kush Award, as water polo's Todd Clapper has earned the honor, announced annually on the anniversary of Coach Kush's passing (June 22, 2017).

There is one vote per head coach -- 21 total -- and the peer-only vote is the ultimate sign of respect from colleagues, and many factors can go into the final decision. It could be a successful first-year coach, a coach that had a season for the ages, or anything in between. The vote is what each head coach decides is most important in earning the honor, and 2020-21 produced a variety of opinions, as nine coaches earned at least one vote.

Clapper follows in the footsteps of hockey's Greg Powers (2018-19) and Trisha Ford (2017-18).

"It is an honor to receive this award named after a Sun Devil legend," said Clapper. "It is also an incredible honor because it is voted on by my peers. This means a lot to our program."

Sun Devil water polo had one of its best seasons in program history.

Not only were three top-five upsets for the first time since 2001, it was the first time since 2016 that there had been a top-five upset.

The Sun Devils had exceptional conference play among a stacked group of the league's elite teams, and tied the program's highest placing in the MPSF Tournament with a fourth-place finish.

Coach Clapper made winning the norm, as ASU ended the season with 14 straight weeks of placing in the top five of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Polls. His defensive strategy held the NCAA Champion USC Trojans to some of their lowest scoring games of the season and proved that the Sun Devils were ready to play with the best of the best. The Sun Devils beat Michigan for their first NCAA Tournament win in program history, and advanced to the Final Four tying for third in the NCAA Tournament -- another program milestone.

Clapper is set to enter his 17th season as a Sun Devil, and there is no doubt that this past season is one of the most impressive of his career. Clapper coached four All-Americans, and Bente Rogge will be off to the Olympic Games in Tokyo this Summer.

This press release was produced by The Sun Devils. The views expressed here are the author’s own.