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Water Polo Legend Terry Schroeder Nominated To U.S. Olympic Hall Of Fame

Terry Schroeder, former head coach of the Pepperdine men's water polo team and the U.S. Olympic men's water polo team, and one of the most legendary players in the history of the sport, has been nominated for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate. The four-time Olympian and coach of the men's silver-medal winning team at the 2008 Olympics is joined by a host of world class athletes including swimmer Gary Hall, Sr. and the 1992 men's basketball team.

"It's a great honor to be in this group; it's a pretty incredible group of athletes," Schroeder says. "It's good (recognition) for the sport, and as we go forward, hopefully we are just getting started."  

Under Schroeder's leadership the Waves earned eight NCAA Championships berths and claimed the program's first-ever national championship in 2007. He was the 1997 National Coach of the Year and earned Mountain Pacific Coach of the Year titles in 1997 and 1998. Schroeder continues his involvement with Waves water polo as an assistant coach.

The nominees were unveiled in mid-April at an event headlined by Allstate chairman, president and chief executive officer, Tom Wilson, along with USOC acting CEO Stephanie Streeter, Chicago 2016 chairman and CEO Patrick Ryan, and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member John Naber.

"The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame celebrates our honorees' commitment to excellence and recognizes Americans who are role models and heroes," Wilson said. "Each of us can find strength, passion and inspiration in these ordinary people who achieved extraordinary success in the Olympics. They help make us proud to be Americans."

From now through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at www.teamusa.org. The inducted class will include five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran, and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago. The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate is the only national sports Hall of Fame that includes fan voting.

"The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame honors Olympic and Paralympic legends who have inspired our country for generations, uniting us behind Team USA and giving us role models who epitomize the Olympic Ideals," Streeter said.

The August 12 induction ceremony will honor the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class and introduce a new international award - the Olive Branch Award - given to an individual or individuals who best represent the international ideals of the Olympic Games by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Also new to 2009, the induction ceremony will feature a special fundraising banquet to benefit Chicago 2016, Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"We are very excited for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame presented by Allstate to return to Chicago for the fourth time," Ryan said. "Chicago is a city that truly embraces the Olympic movement, and to have a Chicago company like Allstate involved in celebrating historic Olympic and Paralympic achievements showcases the broad support our city has for the movement."

Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians and USOC representatives. For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, visit www.teamusa.org.