Coaches

Coaching Staff
Erik Healy Club Director, Coach

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.

Chris Pawlik Coach

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.

Antonis Nahabed Coach

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 WPC. After graduating high school in 2015, he played at Santa Monica College and LA Valley College each for one year.

 

Since 2017 he has been coaching at Mira Costa High School and Trojan WPC.

Personal Background

Antonis grew up in the South Bay and started participating on a swim team at age 7. His first experiences as a coach started at Begg Pool at age 16 as a swim team coach.

What do you enjoy most about Coaching? 

I enjoy the process of teaching waterpolo to the athletes I work with. Seeing them have fun with it and watching them improve over the years is most rewarding. 

Being involved with the sport and community that helped raise me is also part of what makes it enjoyable.

Jon Reichardt Coach

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.

Damon Kern Coach

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.

Dave Halushka Coach

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.

Charles Kim Coach
Water polo Background:
 
Charles started his water polo career in Peninsula High School ('13) and he fell in love with it instantly. He has competed in Peninsula HS and in South Bay Peninsula Water Polo Club. After graduating from UC Irvine, Charles jumped into coaching  the Frosh/Soph boys’ water polo team in Palos Verdes High School during Fall 2017 and then the JV girls’ water polo during the past winter season. Charles helped the JV girls to capture the Bay League Title while assisting the varsity team.  He has also briefly served as the assistant swim coach after the water polo season. Since 2019, Charles returned to his alma mater to help rebuild the boys' water polo program and has been involved in multiple age group teams within the Trojan Water Polo Club. He is excited to be a contributor in growing water polo in both the Trojan and the Peninsula community. 
 
Personal Background
 
Charles was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to America at the age of 9. He moved around from Las Vegas, Rancho Cucamonga, Palos Verdes, and finally settled in Torrance. Charles graduated from Peninsula HS in 2013 and earned his B.A. in History and Literary Journalism from UC Irvine in 2017. He completed his Masters of Arts in Teaching from USC along with a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Social Science. After subbing at Palos Verdes Peninsula USD for over a year, Charles is currently working as a full-time Social Science Teacher and as the coach for the boys' water polo team at Peninsula High School. When Charles is not at the pool/classroom, he loves watching Netflix shows or can easily be spotted at the Starbucks ordering to get extra energy in.
 
What do you enjoy most about Coaching? 
 
I enjoy helping players to grow their self-confidence and self-esteem in and out of water. I especially love seeing both boys and girls come together as a team to overcome adversities in games and practices. Just seeing them fall in love with water polo as I did gets me all the time and seeing them achieve their goals makes my job as a coach very rewarding. I am beyond excited to give back to the water polo community what I have learned from my coaches/mentors and teammates. Lastly, I enjoy seeing kids having fun and creating lasting friendships through the process.
Andre Doria Coach

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.

Nila Ward Coach

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.

Brad Schaefer Coach

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.

Parris Mosteller Coach

Splashball Coach

Nikola Vavic Coach

 

 

Water Polo Background/Experience

Grew up in PV and played for Trojan water polo club. Got 2nd place at JO’s in 2006 as a 14u. Went to Loyola high school were he won two mission league titles.
 
Went on to USC where he won 4 national titles and was captain in his senior year. Twice named NCAA national player of the year as well as being one of 16 players named to the PAC-12 all century team.
 
Represented team USA at the junior national team level at Junior World Championships in 2009 as well as at the senior level from 2013-2016 winning gold at pan ams in 2015 as well as getting 7th at world championships.
 
Played professional for 5 years in Montenegro, Australia and Italy most recently for Roma Nuoto in Italian first division.

What do you enjoy most about Coaching? 

Giving back to the club and coaches that helped me achieve my goals as a player and person as well as trying to influence the next generation of players to love the sport and reach their highest potential.

Garrett Potter Coach
Water polo background/experience 
 
Garrett played water polo and swam at Cypress high school and is currently in his junior year playing water polo at Long Beach State. Over his high school career, he was able to break the school’s career goals record with 387 goals. He plans to play semi-professional after college.
 
Personal background
 
Garrett is from Cypress, CA and has lived there his entire life. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in education, and later a Masters degree in administration, hoping to become a high school physics teacher and hopes to coach the water polo team. When he’s not on the pool deck, he is with friends and family or doing homework. 
 
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
 
I enjoy watching athletes grow both physically and mentally when I coach them. I also love the fact that by coaching these kids, I will have an impact on both their water polo life and life outside the pool.
Joseph Shaw Coach

Water Polo Background/Experience

Joe played Varsity Water Polo at Northwood High School and Loyola Marymount University (LMU) from 2017-2021. During his time at LMU, he was a 2 time All-Conference Selection, All-Academic Team and Senior Year was an All-American Selection. Joe played his youth career with the Socal Water Polo club, and at Northwood High School, where he was a 4 year Varsity player, 3 time All League Selection, First Team All-CIF Selection, Second Team All Orange County Selection, and led all of Orange County in Scoring his Senior Year.

Personal Background

Joe is a native of Irvine, California. He graduated from LMU in 2021 with a degree in Finance and Business Administration. In addition to coaching with Trojan, Joe currently works with Merrill Lynch in the ADRP Program (Wealth Management).

What do you enjoy most about Coaching?

Water Polo was a huge part of my life growing up and I am very grateful for all the opportunities it brought me. I enjoy working with athletes to help them get better, and grow inside and out of the water.