Local roots, national success: James Lathrop has helped coach Stanford to conference championship. He’s also a Gael, holding a teaching credential from Saint Mary’s. / Photo illustration by Piper Westrom
James Lathrop Named Saint Mary’s Men’s Water Polo Head Coach
He 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. He has been named California Coach of the Year and led a team to No. 1 in the nation.
With deep roots in the San Francisco East Bay and extensive coaching experience, James Lathrop has been hired as Saint Mary’s head coach for Men's Water Polo, 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.”
Building a Pipeline
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 serving several stints with 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 California Interstate Federation 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.
The Lamorinda area is also home to Saint Mary’s. The name derives from three East Bay communities near the College—Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. Which means Lathrop knows this neighborhood well.
Lathrop himself originally hails from the East Bay, and he 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 Kalmanovitz School of Education in 2003.
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 Roger Thompson said when announcing the 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.”
