Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
MWP | Lathrop Selected as Saint Mary’s Men’s Water Polo Head Coach
11/17/2025 11:10:00 AM | General
MORAGA, Calif. – With deep roots in the San Francisco East Bay and extensive coaching experience, James Lathrop has been hired as Saint Mary's head men's water polo coach, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso announced on Monday.
Lathrop brings more than 20 years of coaching experience, which includes time with USA Water Polo, Stanford, and locally at the high school and club levels.
In 2022, Lathrop was an assistant coach for the Cardinal, who won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Invitational and advanced to the MPSF championship game.
"We are elated to be able to hire James Lathrop as our head coach and build this program from the beginning," Matoso said. "James has tremendous experience locally, nationally and internationally. He is a perfect fit for the department and campus and we look forward to competing at the highest level."
In men's water polo, Saint Mary's College will compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC), aligning with the Gaels longstanding conference home.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at Saint Mary's! Having been a part of the local aquatic community for most of my life, building a program at Saint Mary's is particularly meaningful to me and I can't wait to get started," Lathrop said. "I am excited to build a men's water polo program that will compete against the best programs in the nation and build connections to our local water polo community."
Prior to his time at Stanford, Lathrop served as the head coach for his alma mater, Miramonte High School, while also serving as the director for boys water polo at Lamorinda Water Polo Club and spending more than 11 years coaching the junior national team and boys Olympic development program with USA Water Polo.
Coaching highlights for Lathrop while working with the Miramonte Matadors include 10 CIF North Coast Section championships and four runner-up finishes. He was named Coach of the Year by the California Coaches Association in 2008, as his team was ranked No. 1 nationally that season. He led the USA Junior National Team in the 2013 FINA World Championships and successfully oversaw and managed the development of the nation's best talent in his time both with USA Water Polo and Lamorinda Water Polo Club.
Originally from the East Bay, Lathrop graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 2000, earning a degree in American History. He spent time as a captain for the Golden Bears' water polo program before earning his teaching credential at Saint Mary's.
Investing in a New Era
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 third and final in a series of head coaches to be hired for Saint Mary's Aquatics.
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
Lathrop brings more than 20 years of coaching experience, which includes time with USA Water Polo, Stanford, and locally at the high school and club levels.
In 2022, Lathrop was an assistant coach for the Cardinal, who won the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Invitational and advanced to the MPSF championship game.
"We are elated to be able to hire James Lathrop as our head coach and build this program from the beginning," Matoso said. "James has tremendous experience locally, nationally and internationally. He is a perfect fit for the department and campus and we look forward to competing at the highest level."
In men's water polo, Saint Mary's College will compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC), aligning with the Gaels longstanding conference home.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach at Saint Mary's! Having been a part of the local aquatic community for most of my life, building a program at Saint Mary's is particularly meaningful to me and I can't wait to get started," Lathrop said. "I am excited to build a men's water polo program that will compete against the best programs in the nation and build connections to our local water polo community."
Prior to his time at Stanford, Lathrop served as the head coach for his alma mater, Miramonte High School, while also serving as the director for boys water polo at Lamorinda Water Polo Club and spending more than 11 years coaching the junior national team and boys Olympic development program with USA Water Polo.
Coaching highlights for Lathrop while working with the Miramonte Matadors include 10 CIF North Coast Section championships and four runner-up finishes. He was named Coach of the Year by the California Coaches Association in 2008, as his team was ranked No. 1 nationally that season. He led the USA Junior National Team in the 2013 FINA World Championships and successfully oversaw and managed the development of the nation's best talent in his time both with USA Water Polo and Lamorinda Water Polo Club.
Originally from the East Bay, Lathrop graduated from University of California, Berkeley in 2000, earning a degree in American History. He spent time as a captain for the Golden Bears' water polo program before earning his teaching credential at Saint Mary's.
Investing in a New Era
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 third and final in a series of head coaches to be hired for Saint Mary's Aquatics.
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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