Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
WWP | Loomis Hired As Saint Mary’s Women’s Water Polo Head Coach
11/10/2025 9:55:00 AM | General
MORAGA, Calif. – The rising excitement surrounding the launch of Saint Mary's Aquatics has entered an important phase with the hiring of Stephen Loomis as the Gaels' head women's water polo coach, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso announced on Monday.
An All-American player at Pepperdine who also had a successful professional career in Europe, Loomis brings significant coaching experience at the collegiate, club and high school levels to Moraga—joining Saint Mary's College after serving as an assistant coach for the USC women's water polo program the past two seasons.
"We are excited to officially launch our women's water polo program with such a strong leader in Stephen Loomis," 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."
In September, Saint Mary's made national news with the announcement that the College was launching a new Division I Aquatics Program, adding four new sports: women's and men's water polo and women's and men's swimming. Program development has been underway this fall, with intercollegiate competition set to begin in the 2026–27 academic year. This announcement is the first in a series of head coaches to be hired for Saint Mary's Aquatics, with additional announcements to come in the near future.
"It's an incredible honor to be named the first head coach of the Saint Mary's College Women's Water Polo program. 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," Loomis said. "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."
In women's water polo, the Gaels will compete in the Golden Coast Conference, which includes other Division I programs from Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Santa Clara, Fresno State, and others.
Loomis joined the Trojan staff in August 2023 after serving as an assistant for the UC Santa Barbara men from 2021-23, while also coaching club for Santa Barbara Premier. His coaching career began as head coach of the De La Salle boys' team from 2017-19. He also worked with the CC United club program in the Bay Area in 2014 and from 2016-20.
As a professional, Loomis first played in the Primera División in Spain, where he led the league in assists and ranked in the top-five in scoring during the 2013-14 season. He also played in the Italian Serie A league, standing as the team's top scorer in the A2 northern division. Also while competing in Europe from 2015-18, Loomis was named the team MVP for the professional clubs Albaro-Nervi, RN Sori and Lavagna Di Meglio.
Before he began his professional career, Loomis played for four seasons at Pepperdine and earned a degree in psychology. He finished his career as an All-American as he led the Waves with 48 goals as a senior. Over the course of the four seasons, Loomis played in 80 matches while recording 95 goals, 41 assists and 42 steals. Loomis continues to compete as a member of New York Athletic Club, winning Senior National titles in 2014 and 2021.
Investing in a New Era
California has long been a center of excellence in aquatics, with world-class high school programs and a deep culture of swimming and water polo. By launching Aquatics in Moraga—in the heart of the Bay Area's swimming culture—Saint Mary's is tapping into one of the nation's strongest talent pipelines while also aligning with a community that lives and breathes the sport.
The College has already secured a partnership with nearby Campolindo High School, whose Olympic-size pool and Soda Aquatics Center will provide training and competition space, complemented by the College's own Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, a daily home base for student-athletes and coaches.
Looking ahead, the College will be developing a state-of-the-art aquatics facility of its own in the coming years, with vital support anticipated from donors, alumni, aquatics enthusiasts, and friends of Saint Mary's.
"Our vision for aquatics at Saint Mary's will only be realized through the passion and generosity of those who care deeply about this sport," Saint Mary's President Thompson said when announcing the aquatics program in September. "This is a unique moment to make a meaningful impact—not just for today's student-athletes, but for the countless Gaels and community members who will benefit from a dedicated aquatics home for decades to come. Together, we can build something enduring, something that reflects the values of our College and the deep tradition of excellence in aquatics across California."
#GaelsRise
An All-American player at Pepperdine who also had a successful professional career in Europe, Loomis brings significant coaching experience at the collegiate, club and high school levels to Moraga—joining Saint Mary's College after serving as an assistant coach for the USC women's water polo program the past two seasons.
"We are excited to officially launch our women's water polo program with such a strong leader in Stephen Loomis," 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."
In September, Saint Mary's made national news with the announcement that the College was launching a new Division I Aquatics Program, adding four new sports: women's and men's water polo and women's and men's swimming. Program development has been underway this fall, with intercollegiate competition set to begin in the 2026–27 academic year. This announcement is the first in a series of head coaches to be hired for Saint Mary's Aquatics, with additional announcements to come in the near future.
"It's an incredible honor to be named the first head coach of the Saint Mary's College Women's Water Polo program. 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," Loomis said. "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."
In women's water polo, the Gaels will compete in the Golden Coast Conference, which includes other Division I programs from Loyola Marymount, Pacific, Santa Clara, Fresno State, and others.
Loomis joined the Trojan staff in August 2023 after serving as an assistant for the UC Santa Barbara men from 2021-23, while also coaching club for Santa Barbara Premier. His coaching career began as head coach of the De La Salle boys' team from 2017-19. He also worked with the CC United club program in the Bay Area in 2014 and from 2016-20.
As a professional, Loomis first played in the Primera División in Spain, where he led the league in assists and ranked in the top-five in scoring during the 2013-14 season. He also played in the Italian Serie A league, standing as the team's top scorer in the A2 northern division. Also while competing in Europe from 2015-18, Loomis was named the team MVP for the professional clubs Albaro-Nervi, RN Sori and Lavagna Di Meglio.
Before he began his professional career, Loomis played for four seasons at Pepperdine and earned a degree in psychology. He finished his career as an All-American as he led the Waves with 48 goals as a senior. Over the course of the four seasons, Loomis played in 80 matches while recording 95 goals, 41 assists and 42 steals. Loomis continues to compete as a member of New York Athletic Club, winning Senior National titles in 2014 and 2021.
Investing in a New Era
California has long been a center of excellence in aquatics, with world-class high school programs and a deep culture of swimming and water polo. By launching Aquatics in Moraga—in the heart of the Bay Area's swimming culture—Saint Mary's is tapping into one of the nation's strongest talent pipelines while also aligning with a community that lives and breathes the sport.
The College has already secured a partnership with nearby Campolindo High School, whose Olympic-size pool and Soda Aquatics Center will provide training and competition space, complemented by the College's own Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, a daily home base for student-athletes and coaches.
Looking ahead, the College will be developing a state-of-the-art aquatics facility of its own in the coming years, with vital support anticipated from donors, alumni, aquatics enthusiasts, and friends of Saint Mary's.
"Our vision for aquatics at Saint Mary's will only be realized through the passion and generosity of those who care deeply about this sport," Saint Mary's President Thompson said when announcing the aquatics program in September. "This is a unique moment to make a meaningful impact—not just for today's student-athletes, but for the countless Gaels and community members who will benefit from a dedicated aquatics home for decades to come. Together, we can build something enduring, something that reflects the values of our College and the deep tradition of excellence in aquatics across California."
#GaelsRise
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