1952: Samuel "Sam" J. Greller of Illinois A.C.
Samuel “Sam” J. Greller (1907-1972) was player of the Illinois Athletic Club and member of the United States Water Polo team at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics; after his playing career, Greller coached the Illinois Athletic Club winning a number of National championships. He was the coach of the 1959 Pan-American team that captured the gold medal, the first international championship ever captured by the U.S. In Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games he was the manager of the U.S. Water Polo team and in 1976 he was inducted into the U.S Water Polo Hall of Fame.
Source: http://www.usawaterpolo.org/