Coaches
Water Polo Background/Experience
Erik played water polo at Mira Costa High School and later at USC from 1999-2003, culminating in the 2003 National Championship on which he was co-captain and played with his teammate/brother Nik Healy. Erik also represented the USA in the World University Games in Daegu, Korea in 2003. Erik has played semi-professional water polo in the Premier league, representing Long Beach Shore.
Currently, Erik Healy is the Loyola High School Head Coach and Director of the Trojan Water Polo Club.
Personal Background
Erik is a native of Manhattan Beach, CA.
Erik graduated from USC with a Bachelors degree in International Relations, earned a Masters degree in Education, and is a credentialed educator who teaches Health and PE at Loyola High School.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy helping athletes reach their maximum potential both individually and as members of a cohesive group. With proper focus and hard work, I believe that the Trojan Club will continue to be the lynchpin of the competitive beach cities water polo community. In addition to achieving success in the pool (his 2019 16u team finished 4th nationally, 2018 18u team finished 8thnationally, 2017 16u team finished 2ndnationally, and 2016 18u team finished 5thnationally), I enjoy developing ongoing, lasting relationships with players in and out of the pool.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Chris was a 2-meter defensive specialist and driver at UC Berkeley in 2001-2005. Prior to playing at UC Berkeley, Chris was a member of the 2000 Mira Costa CIF Championship team. He earned a spot on the First Team All-CIF team, was an Academic All-American, and holds the record for most steals in a season. He also played on the SOPAC Youth National Team in 2000.
Personal Background
Chris graduated UC Berkeley in 2006 with a triple major in Business Administration, Political Economy, and Slavic Languages & Literature. He has a background in real estate private equity, investment sales, and finance. When he's not on the pool deck, he's working on his start-up company.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
As a South Bay native, I’m excited to give back to the community I grew up in through coaching at Trojan. I believe that competitive team sports, particularly water polo, have a tremendously positive impact on the personal development of young men and women. Through my unique background and experience, I hope to help the Trojan family develop a new generation of water polo athletes with the skills necessary to be excellent competitors, in and out of the pool.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Antonis started playing club water polo in 7th grade. He played water polo at Mira Costa High School as well as at Trojan. After graduating high school, he played at Santa Monica College and LA Valley College each for one year. While there, he was MVP, leading goal scorer, 1st Team All Western State Conference, and an All American.
Personal Background
Antonis grew up in the South Bay and started participating on swim team at age 7. He is currently taking classes at El Camino College and planning to transfer to a nearby University. His goal is to become a teacher. In his spare time, his favorite activities are rock climbing and surfing.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I’ve always been passionate about the sport, the challenge along with the rewarding feeling you get for working hard is irreplaceable. Coaching allows me to spread that passion and guide the players towards pushing their limits while learning the multiple facets of the game.
Water Polo Background/Experience:
Jon Reichardt played water polo at Coronado High School where he was MVP, the CIF San Diego Section Co-Player of the Year, and an All-American. After playing college water polo at Mesa College and Fresno State, Jon returned to Coronado as a coach where he trained future Olympians Layne Beaubien, Genai Kerr, and Jesse Smith. Additionally, Jon, along with a group of fellow coaches, spearheaded the effort to make girls water polo an official CIF sport.
In 1998, Jon took over the head coaching position at Mira Costa High School where he has led his boys’ teams to seven CIF finals and four CIF titles, including the school’s first ever title in 2000. His girls’ teams have made two CIF finals appearances and eight semifinals appearances. In 2014, Jon was named the SoCal Section’s Coach of the Year by the California Coaches Association.
In addition to coaching for Costa, Jon coaches for Trojan Water Polo Club. In 2018, his 10U mixed team earned silver at Junior Olympics in the platinum division and Jon was honored with the Bill Barnett Distinguished Coaching Award for the Coastal California Zone for his work with the team.
Personal Background:
Jon graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in art education and is a credentialed teacher, specializing in art, ceramics, and surfboard design at Mira Costa High School.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
I enjoy teaching kids the fundamentals about the game and watching them improve, using the sport of water polo to teach life lessons about teamwork, dedication, and problem solving. Most importantly, watching kids play together and having a good time is the most rewarding part of the job.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Kyle was introduced to water polo in 2005 as a freshman at Loyola High School and soon after joined Trojan Water Polo Club. He was quickly drawn to the sport. In addition to playing for Trojan, Kyle competed at Loyola on their water polo and swimming teams for the duration of his high school years. During that time he gained experience playing ODP and competing internationally with Loyola and Trojan teams in Hungary, Croatia, and Montenegro.
Kyle moved on to play NCAA Division 1 at Santa Clara University.
Personal Background
Kyle attended Santa Clara University where he competed through 2014 while earning a degree in Biomedical Science. After graduating, he worked as an EMT before moving to New York to pursue further education at Columbia University Medical Center. Kyle is currently living at home in the Pacific Palisades while completing his thesis requirements and has plans to continue on into medical school.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy coaching young athletes and giving back to the local water polo community.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Emily played at Notre Dame High School while playing club water polo. After graduating from high school, she played at California State Northridge for four years.
Personal Background
Emily is an ocean lifeguard in Venice as well as a yoga teacher and swim coach at Windward School.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy empowering girls by creating a challenging but supportive environment based on hard work and comradery for girls to learn how to support each other and ultimately themselves. Water polo is one of the hardest sports in the world and it makes me proud every day to help girls develop tools to be the best versions of themselves in and out of the pool.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Damon started playing water polo at 13 years old and played at Chadwick High School. After graduating, he attended and played at Whittier college
Personal Background
Damon was born and raised in South Bay.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy seeing the kids improve while having a fun experience and it is rewarding to have the kids supporting each other and working together to reach their goals.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Dave has been the Mira Costa High School boys and girls water polo varsity team Assistant Coach since 2005. Prior to that, he played for Coach Jon Reichardt and was teammates with Coach Healy and Coach Pawlik. At Mira Costa, Dave was a 3-year Varsity letter player. He was also Captain and MVP of the first CIF championship team in 2000, which earned him a spot on both First Team All-CIF and First Team All Bay League teams.
Since 2005, Dave has helped lead the Mira Costa boys teams to 10 Bay League Championships, 2 CIF Championships, and 3 CIF Final appearances. During that same time, Dave helped lead the Mira Costa girls teams to 2 CIF Final appearances. He is also the Mira Costa High School JV swim coach.
Since 2013, Dave has coached the 16u Boys team at Trojan Water Polo Club.
Personal Background
Dave grew up in Manhattan Beach where he attended American Martyrs and Mira Costa HS. Upon graduation, he earned a BA at CSULB and MA in Special Education at CSUDH.
Dave is currently a Special Education Teacher at Mira Costa High School.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy the process of teaching and helping athletes develop the mindset where they begin to see all games, wins, and especially losses as opportunities to learn. Also, I enjoy being around a pool deck and engaging in the healthy lifestyle that water polo affords. I hope that through coaching I am able to instill a passion for learning that allows each player to take what they have learned from playing water polo and apply it to their growth and development in their personal and professional lives. I also hope to give to my players what water polo gave to me: self-confidence, a strong work ethic, and the ability to work with as well as to collaborate and lead others. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to coach water polo in the South Bay and be a part of the Trojan Water Polo Club.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Stefan Menghin has been with Trojan Water Polo Club for more than 4 years and comes from an international water polo background.
He played 5 years professionally in Europe and coached for 10 years there as well. As a goaltender he led the team to 5 national championship wins. He received rookie of the year in 2003, MVP in 2005, and best goal keeper award in ‘06, and ‘07. He also participated in the European LEN Trophy, Champions League Europe, which is the top international league in Europe. Stefan served as the Austrian National Team’s goal keeper from 2004-2010. Stefan was also the head coach for the U13, U15, U17, U19 teams at his Club. A remarkable moment of his coaching career came when all four teams won the Austrian Championship for their age group in the same year.
Stefan is currently the assistant coach and goaltender coach for Loyola High School.
Personal Background
Stefan holds a Masters in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy teaching and helping young players develop into strong athletes and individuals in the community.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Ian has been playing water polo since he was 11 years old. Water polo has always been an important part of his life. He was co-captain and goalkeeper on both Mira Costa and MIT Varsity teams. At Mira Costa, as Co-Captain, he was named First team CIF All-Star, First team Bay League All-Star, and NISCA All-American Team CA/HI. At MIT, he was also a Co-Captain and was on the Men's All-Academic Team with Superior Distinction.
Ian has also been a private goalie coach over the past few years.
Personal Background
Ian was born and raised in Manhattan Beach and was the first of his family to play water polo. His brother followed suit shortly afterward.
Ian graduated from MIT in 2017 with a degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and a concentration in Anthropology. During college, he worked as a volunteer on MIT's EMS ambulance service and as an officer for the National Engineering Fraternity, Theta Tau. He is also active in Jiu-Jitsu and enjoys playing both the stand-up and electric bass.
Also, Ian is a certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Commonwealth of Massachusetts
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I really enjoy coaching and I especially like watching players grow and overcome obstacles in the pool that have been keeping them from reaching their potential. Seeing their pride in their accomplishments is one of the best parts of coaching. I am thrilled to be able to pay it forward to the South Bay water polo community and to help these awesome kids reach their potential.
Water Polo Background/Experience
André started playing water polo at the age of 11 in Brazil, where he played on a team that won the major Brazilian tournament four times and where he distinguished himself as MVP as well as the highest scorer. His success at a young age led him to play for Brazil’s Junior National team, which competed all over South America as well as in Pan American and International tournaments. He also played with the Brazilian National team that qualified for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
After playing in Brazil during his youth, André played two years at Golden West College where he was Captain of the team that won two consecutive Community College Championships, which earned him a place on the All-American First Team twice. His success earned him a scholarship to play at Queens College where, in 1997, he helped lead his team to a NCAA Final Four appearance, which became the first team from outside the state of California to finish third place in an NCAA men's water polo tournament.
After graduating from Queens College, André was invited to play at the New York Athletic Club (‘NYAC’). At NYAC, his team won four national tournaments and he played with many US national team players as well with many great players from Europe. As a Masters-level player, he participated in three World Championships, won a Silver medal in Montreal, Canada, and, as Captain, led his team to win the Pan-American games.
André helped develop a water polo program at a private club in Brazil, started a program at Asphalt Green in NYC, and is now coaching with the Trojan 14U program.
Personal Background
André grew up playing water polo with his brother who continues to play on the international level. Playing water polo gave him the opportunity to play and study in the US while pursuing his passion in film. André graduated from Queen’s College with a Bachelors degree in Film Studies and currently lives in Manhattan Beach where he is a movie director/writer and where his two sons now play for Trojan Water Polo Club.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
First and foremost, I love the sport. I enjoy helping new players get enthusiastic about being in the water and playing as a team. It’s great to watch young players improve and find a similar passion and love for the game as I have. Also, after so many years of being around pools, I feel like it’s my duty to pass on to the new generations all the experience and knowledge I’ve acquired playing water polo.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Nila began playing water polo at Santa Monica HS, and went on to play in college at UC Santa Cruz (following 2 years at UCD). She was a two-time All-American and started the UCSC club water polo team after the NCAA program was cut in her final year. After her collegiate career, she followed water polo around the world, playing professionally for eight seasons in countries including Australia, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece, and England. (She knows how to say ‘man up,’ ‘press,’ and ‘shoot’ in all the languages!) Here in the states she continues to play regularly at the Masters level.
Nila has over 15 years of experience coaching at the high school, age group, ODP, Junior College, and collegiate levels. Most recently, she was the assistant coach at Connecticut College. She has just accepted a position as the new head coach of girls water polo at El Segundo High School.
Personal Background
Nila graduated from UCSC with a Bachelors degree in Health Sciences, and went on to earn a Masters in Education from Durham University (in England). She is an L.A. County Lifeguard and a Jr. Lifeguard Instructor in Venice and Santa Monica. In her free time, she enjoys surfing, reading, hitting the beach and is learning to play the ukulele. She once walked across the length of Spain on the Camino De Santiago (500 miles!)
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I enjoy sharing all that I have learned about water polo and life from my many teammates & coaches around the world. Through coaching, I hope to give back to this amazing sport, empower young athletes to achieve their goals, and inspire them to follow their dreams. The people who choose to play water polo are an extraordinary breed and the relationships we form within this community are the most important part. I most enjoy the fun of the process.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Brad played water polo at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills from 1994-1997. He was recruited and played water polo at UCLA.
Personal Background
Brad grew up in Orange County, graduated from UCLA in 2001, and has been living in the South Bay since 2008 with his wife Becky, son Dane (born 2010), son Bennett (born 2012), and daughter Serena (born 2015).
Brad works for Medtronic Spine in medical device (since 2005) where he consults with surgeons and staff in the operating room during spine surgeries.
Brad enjoys surfing, family time at the beach, beach volleyball, swimming, and coaching. Overall, he mostly enjoys spending time with his family and attending all of their sports and activities.
Water Polo Background/Experience
Jenna played Water Polo at St. Francis Catholic High School and American River Water Polo Club. After graduating from high school, she played at California State University, Northridge for three years and is currently finishing her fourth season there.
Personal Background
Jenna is a full time, Division I, student-athlete, as well as a lifeguard and private swim instructor. She is a native to the Sacramento valley.
What do you enjoy most about Coaching?
I most enjoy helping players believe in themselves. By creating an environment that is challenging-- both mentally and physically-- I am able to test the boundaries and limits of what each athlete is capable of. I set high standards that my players don't necessarily believe they can do, and help them through their struggles. Fear of missing, and self doubt are common among young athletes, but I most enjoy helping my players see the potential they don't see in themselves.
Splashball Coach
