| Title: | Head Coach |
| Phone: | 323 259 2984 |
| Email: | lzubrin@oxy.edu |
Larry Zubrin has spent the past nine seasons as head coach at Occidental College. During his time at Oxy, Coach Zubrin has helped turn the Tigers into one of the most competitive teams in the nation.
The men's team has been ranked amongst the top 10 teams in the nation for nine consecutive seasons under Zubrins leadership. In 2011 the men advanced to the WWPA Championship Tournament for the first time since 2002.
From Newport Beach California, Zubrin arrived at Occidental after eight years as a successful high school coach at El Modena and Laguna Beach High Schools in Orange County. Zubrin also represented United States Water Polo as the coach of the Boys and Girls Orange County Youth teams in 1999-2000 where he assisted in evaluating talent for the US National Team.
During his time at Occidental College, Zubrin has helped produce 20 different men's and 17 different women's NCAA All-Academic award winners. Additionally, six different men and seven different women have earned NCAA All-American awards during Coach Zubrin's tenure.
In addition to his role as head coach at Occidental College, Zubrin is also the head girls water polo coach at the Marlborough School in Hancock Park, CA as well as an assistant coach with the Falcon Water Polo Club in Crescenta Valley, CA.
A graduate of Corona Del Mar High School in Newport Beach, Calif., Zubrin went on to compete as a water polo player and swimmer at Golden West College and then at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he was a two-time NCAA All-American Swimmer. Prior to the start of his coaching career, Zubrin played for one season with Queensland, in the Australian National Water Polo League.
| Title: | Goalie Coach |
| Phone: | 323 259 2984 |
Jon Bonefede returns to Occidental for his fourth season as an assistant water polo coach. Since joining the program, Bonefede has played an instrumental role in developing the programs goal keepers. In the past three years, under Bonafede's instruction, three different Tigers goalies have earned both All-SCIAC and All-American Honors.
Bonafede spent four years playing professionally in Australia's National Water Polo League. In 2011, while playing with the Melbourn men's team, Bonafede also coached the Melbourn women's team to a runner-up finish in the National League Championships.
Along with his coaching duties at Occidental College, Bonafede also assists Zubrin with the girls water polo team at the Marlborough School in Hancock Park, CA, as well as coaching with the Chino Hills Area Water Polo Club (CHAWP). In addtion he's spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with the women's team at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, CA.
A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, the former Goucho goalie was the teams MVP in 2004 and an All-MPSF player. Prior to attending Santa Barbara, he spent two seasons at Mt. San Antonio College where he earned All-State and Community College All-American honors. He was also a two-time All-CIF SS player at Upland HS in Upland, CA.
| Title: | Assistant Coach |
| Phone: | 323 259 2984 |
Following an illustrious career as a player at Occidental College, Andrew Valdes returned to the Tigers after his graduation in the Spring of 2009. This year will mark his third season on the Oxy coaching staff.
While playing for the black and orange, Valdes earned NCAA All-American and All-SCIAC awards in 2007 and 2008. One of the programs most prolific scorers, In 2007 Valdes finished among the nations top 15 goal scorers, and his 92 goals in 2008 put him at No. 2 in the nation amongst all men's water polo players in the NCAA. Valdes is one of the 10 highest goal scorers in the 85 year history of the Occidental College Men's Water Polo Team.
Valdes came to Oxy from La Serna High School in Whittier, CA. He earned his degree at Occidental in Film and Media Studies and along with his role as a coach he currently works as an Associate Account Executive at Bender/Helper Impact marketing firm.
| Title: | Assistant Coach |
| Phone: | 323 259 2984 |
A 2006 graduate of Occidental College with BA in History, Scott Shannon was a four year starter and an NCAA First Team All-American and First Team All-SCIAC in 2006. He also spent four seasons as a member of the Tiger swim team. Additionally, Shannon earned NCAA All-Academic recognition in all four of his years at as a student-athlete at Oxy.
Shannon arrived at Occidental in the Fall of 2002 from Clear Creak High School in League City, TX, where he was an three time All-State award winner and a NISCA High School All-American as a senior in 2001. The 2011-12 season will mark Shannon's fifth year as a coach at Oxy. He has also coached at La Canada High School and with the Houston Water Polo Club.
In the Spring of 2011 Shannon earned his post-graduate degree in Law from the University of Southern California. In June of 2011, he passed the California State Bar exam on his first attempt, and in December he was sworn in as a California State Attorney. In addition to his coaching position at Occidental, Shannon also practices law with a commercial real estate firm in Los Angeles, CA.
