Water Polo Head Coach Howie Kalter ʼ07 started his journey at Andover as a student in 2004, then again as a teaching fellow in 2014. He played water polo throughout his time at Andover and went on to play at the college level at Bucknell University. He is now back at the school coaching for his second season.
Sean Niu ’25 noted Kalter’s unique and engaging coaching style. As a former high-level player, Kalter is able to set an outstanding example for the team at practice.
“He’s still young, and he’s still in shape, so he’s able to hop in the water and show us some cool stuff… He’s able to show us first-hand cool moves or plays we can run in the water,” said Niu.
Jeffery Lim ʼ27 highlighted Kalter’s dedication to the team. His commitment to improving the team’s skills is evident in the high standards he holds the team to.
“He puts all his energy towards us, and making us into better players and better teammates. He really never gives up on us and is a great coach in that aspect. One of the parts we love about him is that you know, sometimes we might not play how he wants us to play, but those are the times where he really steps up and goes ‘Hey, this is not our kind of water polo,’ and saying that our water polo is much better than this. So those are the times where he puts it all in on the table and sees what we can do and trusts us to do that,” said Lim.
In practice, Kalter prepares players for in-game moments through game-like scenarios as opposed to pre-set drills. He focuses on quick thinking to help players improve decision-making under pressure.
“I want my athletes to be students of the game. I design practices to encourage players to think in the moment and make the right decisions instead of prescribing set plays. I find this makes more dynamic and successful athletes,” wrote Kalter in an email to The Phillipian.
According to Lim, Kalter values the importance of consistency and drive in practice. Lim emphasized the value Kalter puts on having a strong work ethic on both sides of the coach-player relationship.
“One of the things [Kalter] says is how you practice is how you play. He takes that really seriously and we take that really seriously. If we give the hard work that he asks of us, then he’s going to deliver and we’re going to deliver to winning more games,” said Lim.
Once an Andover student himself, Kalter also understands the challenges students sometimes face physically and mentally. Niu recognized Kalter’s open mind in situations where players might be struggling inside and outside the sport.
“I feel like Coach Kalter’s been really understanding, partially because he’s been there and done that. He’s really understanding when we tell him that we have other commitments, such as our Seniors with college [applications] and tests. And he’s really accommodating for that. He’s also really, really keen on making sure his players are healthy, so he prioritizes stretching… He’s overall a great support both physically and mentally,” Niu said.
Kalter shared that he approaches situations where the team dynamic seems to be off in practices or in games by addressing what may be going on outside of the pool.
“The most effective way that I have handled this is by checking in with the team. Often, when practice isn’t going well, there is something going on outside the pool that is distracting the team,” wrote Kalter.
As the season is coming to a close, Kalter applauds the progress players have made as individuals and the progress the team has made as a whole. Kalter shared his hope for the team to display this improvement in the last games of the season.
“My goal every year is for the team to play their best water polo at the end of the season. I want to coach a team that is constantly focused on improving on an individual and group level. For this season, we have two games left. It would be great to see the team execute on a high level during those two games,” wrote Kalter.
