Photo of Shana Welch courtesy of Gil Talbot.

Harvard assistant water polo coach Shana Welch has signed a contract to play water polo professionally for N.E. Patras Club in Catras, Greece. The second-year assistant will depart immediately to begin playing in the A1 Ethniki, which is the highest professional water polo league in Greece.

Shana, and this wonderful opportunity she has," head coach Ted Minnis said of her departure. "The league allows only one foreign player on the squad, so it is truly a great honor. I will miss her, she has been a tremendous help with my transition into this position. I also know when she is done playing she is going to be a great coach. She understands the game so well and has a way of communicating it to the athletes. I wish her all the luck in the world."

Harvard will begin looking for a new coach immediately. In the meantime, the Crimson hosts the ECAC Championships Friday through Sunday at Blodgett Pool.