Saint Mary’s Hires Stephen Loomis as Inaugural Women’s Water Polo Coach
Saint Mary’s has hired Stephen Loomis as its inaugural women’s water polo coach, the school announced on Monday.
Loomis was an All-American at Pepperdine and played professionally in Europe. He’s coached at the club, high school and college levels in California, including serving as an assistant coach for USC’s women’s team the last two seasons.
“It’s an incredible honor to be named the first head coach of the Saint Mary’s College Women’s Water Polo program,” Loomis said in a press release. “Launching a Division I program from the ground up is a rare and exciting opportunity, and I’m deeply grateful to the administration for their vision and trust. Returning to the Bay Area, where I grew up and began my journey in water polo, makes this opportunity particularly rewarding. I’m proud to bring Division I women’s water polo to a community that has given so much to me and to the sport. I can’t wait to get started, and to help pave the way for future Gaels who will proudly represent Saint Mary’s at the highest level of collegiate water polo.”
Loomis graduated from Pepperdine in 2012, named an All-American his senior season. He compiled 95 goals, 41 assists and 42 steals in 80 matches. He played professionally in Spain’s Primera Division and Italy’s Serie A with Albaro-Nervi, RN Sori and Lavagna di Meglio from 2015-18. He also won senior national titles with New York Athletic Club in 2014 and 2021.
Loomis began coaching in the Bay Area with CC United’s club program. He was the head coach of the boys program at De La Salle High School from 2017-19 before jumping into the college ranks. He was an assistant for the men’s team at UC Santa Barbara from 2021-23 while coaching club Santa Barbara Premier. In August 2023, he was hired by the Trojans as an assistant.
“We are excited to officially launch our women’s water polo program with such a strong leader in Stephen Loomis,” Athletic Director Mike Matoso said. “We had a strong candidate pool and Stephen really stood out among that group. He will do a tremendous job building this program and competing instantly.”
The Division I school in California announced in September that it was adding both men’s and women’s water polo and men’s and women’s swimming to its athletic offerings. The programs will launch in the 2026-27 academic year, with the women’s team joining the Golden Coast Conference.
