From Politics to Polo

Andy Freed '90 is a born storyteller. The towering, fast-talking rookie coach of the Harvard men's water polo team can talk to you about the Cold War. He can teach you how to run a political campaign and manipulate the media. And he can even give you instruction on the breastroke.

It's no surprise, then, that this man of many interests is enthusiastic about his current position at Harvard. While coaching the water polo team, Freed is also pursuing a master's degree in press and politics at the Kennedy School.

"I'm planning to use my position as water polo coach as a springboard for a U.S. Senate run," jokes Freed, former deputy national press secretary for former presidential candidate Paul Tsongas. In all seriousness, the former Harvard water polo captain admits that his political and athletic backgrounds have overlapped significantly. In fact, he can't stop talking about them.

"The biggest thing in coaching is motivation, and that's the same skill you need in politics, to motivate voters and campaign workers," the articulate twentysomething coach says. He pauses briefly. And then the story continues:

"You reach a point in the middle of the season or the campaign when you ask yourself, 'What am I doing this for?' When people can't pronounce Tsongas' name, when spectators show up at a water polo game asking, `Where are the horses?; you need to motivate your team."

"Both sports and politics are very competitive atmospheres, and I don't like to lose," Freed says.

Freed also says that politics and competitive sports rely on similar principles. Whether he's competing against Jerry Brown or the Brown Bears, Freed says he has learned how to assess an opponent and plan strategy.

"In both coaching and politics, the best people are the ones who are looking furthest ahead. You've got to have a long term plan," says Freed.

In practice, the intense young coach makes sure his players keep that outlook. Beginning each practice with a brief speech that outlines the team's recent games and its goals for the next week, Freed is stern and tough, but at the same time hopeful. He tries to keep the work in perspective, peppering his sometimes tough Vince Lombardi language with jokes. In practice, Freed the storyteller sometimes plays Freed the prankster. At a recent Tuesday evening session, Freed called on freshman Jake Bassett to entertain the team with a song.

"Kumbaya," one player suggested. "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Women," another said. Standing on the diving platform, Bassett instead chose "Happy Birthday," delivering a monotone, somewhat painful version of the classic. Needless to say, Bassett was roundly jeered by his fellow team members.

But as Freed as sees it, it's all in good fun. What's more, his players respond to his approach. Senior Alex Walley, who played with Freed his freshman year, heartily endorses the rookie coach.

"Coach Freed has been great. He was the captain of the water polo team my freshman year. He's the unsung hero of Harvard water polo," Walley says. "He's especially sensitive to the concerns of the student athlete. We have a lot of fun. I look forward to practice every day."

Freed's coaching style is certainly having an effect on the team's performance. Harvard is currently 11-5 and is enjoying one of its most successful seasons ever.

Freed was also the architect of one of the Crimson's greatest victories ever: a September 24 defeat of Brown, the first win over the Bears since 1971.

Freed's true ambition, however, is a career in politics. His athletic background, he says, has already helped in that regard. One of his favorite political stories (he has many) is how he helped transform Tsongas's image during the Democratic primaries..

"I worked with Paul on his swimming. It was very important to him, he loved it, and it also helped him politically. He has a great breaststroke," Freed says. "After his relay team set a world record in Master's swimming, the questions about his health and his cancer were really put to rest. Whenever asked about his health, the Senator could say, `I've set a world record, have you?"'

As he tells his story, Freed speaks as he always does: With the conviction of someone who believes in himself and what he has to say. He speaks like a coach. And a politician.

Indeed, it's all part of his nature. His multiple interests give him the perspective he needs to be successful--as a coach, a student or a campaign manager. "Many times I've been at a game and a reporter will ask me, `Is this a must-win situation?' No, it isn't. The Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, those were must-win situations. Beating Princeton is a water polo game."

"If you keep that level of perspective, you'll realize sports are an outlet, a way to have fun," Freed says. "The reason the team is having its most successful season in history is because everyone's having more fun now than they've had in the past."

So is Freed.