Staff Directory

Chris Vidale

Title:
Head Coach

Chris Vidale was named the head coach of the University of Michigan water polo program on May 21, 2026, after spending the last 10 seasons as the head coach at Marist.

Vidale comes to Ann Arbor after spending the last 10 seasons as the women’s head coach at Marist, compiling a 194-117 record with eight 20-win seasons. He led the Red Foxes to the 2021 MAAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament, picking up a 9-8 first-round win over Salem to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history.

This past season, Vidale was named the MAAC Coach of the Year for the first time as the Red Foxes went 8-0 in conference action and made a run to the MAAC championship match. Ines Sanchez was named the MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year and the Red Foxes put a league-best three players on the All-MAAC first team.

Throughout his 10 seasons at Marist, he coached his players to 17 Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Women’s Division I All-America honorable mention citations.

Prior to coaching at Marist, Vidale coached at Greenwich High School from 2014-16 and led the team to the 2015 Connecticut state championship. He also serves as the New York Athletic Club head coach and general manager, coaching countless current and former Olympians.

He has been a mainstay on the coaching staff of the USA water polo cadet team, helping them claim bronze at the 2024 PanAm Aquatics U19 Water Polo Championships in El Salvador. He is helping the team prepare for the upcoming world championships in Croatia later this summer.

Vidale began his coaching career at his alma mater, coaching on both the women’s staff (2009-16) and men’s staff (2009-14) at Iona.

Vidale played collegiately at Iona (2003-07), totaling 30 goals, eight assists, 56 steals and 38 drawn kickouts in 67 games played. He won a pair of bronze medals with Trinidad and Tobago National Team, coming at the 2009 CCCAN Games and at the 2009 FINA men's water polo trophy event.

He and his wife, Betsey, have two children - Frankie (10) and Max (7). Betsey (Armstrong) is an Olympic gold medalist (2012) and was inducted into the Michigan Athletics Hall of Honor in 2018 as the first water polo athlete honored following her illustrious collegiate career in Ann Arbor.