SURPRISE, Ariz. – Ottawa University Arizona Director of Athletics Kevin Steele announced the school will begin sponsoring men's and women's water polo in 2019-20. Along with announcing the new programs, Steele has hired Austen Ramer to build the two programs as head coach.
 
"Austen is a passionate young coach who brings innovation and enthusiasm for the sport of water polo. These traits are only surpassed by his love for the Lord," Steele answered when asked about choosing Ramer to start the water polo programs at OUAZ. "It is a pleasure to have such an accomplished young man to lead these new programs. Austen was a phenomenal player and has excellent credentials as a coach as well. His knowledge of the Southern California polo world along with his international ties will give him a great advantage in recruiting as he builds our programs from the ground up.  I am excited to see Austen bring his competitive spirit, his enthusiasm for the sport and his love for the Lord to his programs as he develops the culture desired in OUAZ Athletics."
 
Ramer will join the Spirit after leading the Murrieta Valley High School (Calif.) boys and girls programs the past season. Prior to taking over as head coach this season, Ramer was the assistant coach at the school when they boys' team won the Southwestern League and advanced to the quarterfinals of the C.I.F. last season.
 
Ramer has also been a coach and administrator at various age levels for a variety of clubs where he has lived across the country. Most recently he coached boys and girls at the Elite Water Polo Club in the Murrieta area. Ramer also spent time at Longhorn Aquatics at the University of Texas and with the Las Vegas Water Polo Club.
 
"I am honored to help Ottawa University add to their excellent, yet brief history, by helping lead them into the future with the addition of men's and women's water polo at OUAZ," Ramer said of accepting the position. "I could not be any more excited to work with the administration and other faculty members as we engineer the water polo programs. Both programs will be rooted in the university's mission statement and will be founded by high character individuals who genuinely want to make OUAZ great!"
 
Ramer played water polo collegiately at Cal Baptist University where the goalie tallied 1,129 saves to leave the school as the all-time leader in the category. Ramer was named First Team All-American by the AWPCA in 2012. In his four years playing for the Lancers, the team won 96 games and had a .738 winning percentage.
 
Ramer earned his Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in the field of Communications from Cal Baptist in 2012.
 
The addition of men's and women's water polo – along with the addition of men's & women's swimming & diving – brings the total number of sport offerings in the fall at OUAZ to 26.