During his four-year Andover sports career, Howie Kalter ’07 won the Schubert Key, led three Varsity sports as Captain and qualified for the All-American water polo team. Seven years after he graduated, Kalter has returned to campus as Boys Varsity Water Polo’s new Head Coach and as a Teaching Fellow in Mathematics.
“I love playing water polo and I love coaching. If [the players] see how pumped up I get over little things, it gets them excited too,” said Kalter.
Kalter first touched a water polo ball at the beginning of his Lower year and was named Andover’s first All-American water polo player later that same year. As Captain of Varsity Water Polo, Swimming and Volleyball his Senior year, Kalter led all three teams to their greatest finishes in Andover history.
Kalter was also awarded the Schubert Key, an award given to the member of the Senior Class who has best upheld good character, sportsmanship and a positive attitude on the athletic field.
Following Andover, Kalter attended Bucknell University and played four years of Division I Water Polo. Kalter finished his Bucknell career with 154 goals and was a member of the 2010 NCAA All-American Water Polo Team.
After graduating, Kalter played professionally in New Zealand and served as assistant water polo coach at both Bucknell and Brown University.
“Improving as a player really makes you a better coach. Everyone does everything correctly, and you get to know what good water polo looks like,” said Kalter.
As a member of the United States Men’s Water Polo team, Kalter participated in the recent Maccabiah Games in Israel and earned a gold medal.
Kalter attributes his water polo success to Andover, which allowed him to blossom both as a water polo player and as an individual.
“I had a great experience [at Andover] and I reached a point in my life where I wanted to start teaching more seriously,” he said.
As the new Boys Water Polo coach, Kalter has already made a significant impact on the team.
“[Coach Kalter] brings a player mentality. He understands what it is like to play at Andover, and, in turn, he is able to communicate with us effectively. He gets in the water during practice and works with us individually. I can already feel the extent of my improvement after two weeks with him,” said Captain Nick Faulkner ’16.
As a player on Andover Boys Water Polo only eight years ago, Kalter sees coaching as an entirely new experience.
“I want to get in the pool and play. That is probably the hardest part,” he said.
He continued, “I show [the players] body positioning and stuff like that [during practice]. Water polo is the kind of sport where hands-on teaching is important.”
After winning the New England Conference last year for the first time in its history, Boys Water Polo has high expectations.
“We graduated a lot of guys. I want the returners to step up into leadership roles and I want the new guys to develop good water polo skills,” said Kalter.
With Kalter at the helm, Andover seems in good shape to take home the Championship once again. coach, Kalter has already made a significant impact on the team.
“[Coach Kalter] brings a player mentality. He understands what it is like to play at Andover, and, in turn, he is able to communicate with us effectively. He gets in the water during practice and works with us individually. I can already feel the extent of my improvement after two weeks with him,” said Captain Nick Faulkner ’16.
As a player on Andover Boys Water Polo only eight years ago, Kalter sees coaching as an entirely new experience.
“I want to get in the pool and play. That is probably the hardest part,” he said.
He continued, “I show [the players] body positioning and stuff like that [during practice]. Water polo is the kind of sport where hands-on teaching is important.”
After winning the New England Conference last year for the first time in its history, Boys Water Polo has high expectations.
“We graduated a lot of guys. I want the returners to step up into leadership roles and I want the new guys to develop good water polo skills,” said Kalter.
With Kalter at the helm, Andover seems in good shape to take home the Championship once again.
