HAYWARD, Calif. — Dr. Calvin Caplan is far more than the water polo goalkeeper coach at Cal State East Bay.

He's been a symbol for the convergence of academics with athletics since stepping foot on the Hayward campus in 1968.

During a time when the physical education, recreation and dance departments were all part of exercise physiology, Caplan helped produce the first Exercise Physiology graduate program. It all happened as he became head coach for the Pioneer men's water polo team. 

"When I was hired, the philosophy was to hire people who not only had expertise in some academic area, but could also coach a team," Caplan recalled. "Most people have hobbies like photography and fishing. My hobby was being part of the university in a lot of different aspects around campus."

After completing undergrad at San Fernando Valley State College — which is known today as Cal State Northridge (CSUN) — Caplan completed his master's  at UC Berkeley in just two semesters before also earning his doctoral degree in Berkeley.

By the time he came to Cal State Hayward, Caplan was determined to be involved throughout the university community.

"I'd show up in the (CSUH) President's office once or twice a month," Caplan said. "I'd say, 'What can I do for you?' Being in governance makes you known all over the campus, good or bad. 

"I was known as someone who could gather a consensus. Anything I could do for the university because of the career it gave me, I've done it and still do."

Diverse Career

Although he was just  introduced to the game during his undergrad years, Caplan was appointed head coach of the UC Berkeley freshman team while working toward his master's degree.

What Caplan didn't know at the time was that group was stacked with nine high school All-Americans. They eventually finished the season 18-1.

Being relatively new to the game didn't stop Caplan from coaching to the best of his ability.

"The players said, 'Coach, you're smart enough to know when we need a rest,'" Caplan remembers.

During this time he also helped out with the Golden Bears men's varsity team coached by water polo legend Peter Cutino, who the NCAA eventually named the Player of the Year award after in his honor.

That's when Caplan eventually moved on to Cal State Hayward, becoming the Pioneer men's water polo coach for 13 years from 1968-81, and also coaching spring board diving from 1972-84. Some of his standout student-athletes during this time included Pioneer Hall of Famers Lori Stilson Armstrong, Jana Wilson Halle and a long list of others.
 
But of course, he was also involved in faculty governance and spent a lot of time in local academic senate and several committees. 

"Having finger in all these pies made me a different kind of coach," he said. "I call it being a 'Renaissance coach.'

"I have an affinity for interacting with other coaches and sharing ideas about training, and that was also valuable." 



Water Polo Love Story

Although initially attracted to more conventional sports such as football, baseball and basketball, Caplan was steered toward aquatic sports at a young age.

"I fell in love with water polo because my dad wouldn't let me play football," Caplan said. "I was naturally a good swimmer. 

"What I like most is it's a game that requires a lot of different skills, both physically and mentally. It's a continuously moving game like basketball. It has goals like soccer and it's very physical; like a cross between wrestling and football."

Despite being a long-time water polo and diving coach, Caplan admitted that he doesn't necessarily enjoy swimming, even though he excelled in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

"If I could have swam and grabbed the person next to me, fine. But you couldn't do that," he said. "I didn't get to my full potential as a swimmer, but I was very good."

Decades of coaching on the Pioneer Pool deck culminated when the 2008 women's water polo team won the Division II National Championship.

Caplan served as goalkeeper coach — a role he still holds — for that historic team under current coach Lisa Cooper.

"I'm very grateful to Lisa for that," he said. 

Mentoring A Legend

Caplan has a long-standing relationship with current California State University Chancellor Dr. Timothy P. White, showing has far his impact can be felt.

White earned his master's degree at Cal State Hayward under Caplan before eventually pursing his doctorate at UC Berkeley.

An early conversation involved Caplan giving White the class textbook to read, and if he proved to have a good grasp of the material, Caplan would agree to help him.

The rest is history.

"The summer (White) finished undergrad at Fresno State, he came to talk to me to see if I'd be his professor to get a master's degree," Caplan recalled. "He was interested in exercise physiology, and we were the first physiological science-based program. 

"That's my commitment to not just athletics, but to an academic program. I was all in. I was always involved in arguments that were logical and made sense and were supported.

"That's why I stick with the university."