Since Pomona-Pitzer men’s and women’s water polo head coach Alex Rodriguez accepted the position in 2006, the water polo programs have become one of the most formidable opponents to Division III teams nationwide. The men’s and women’s teams each boast three SCIAC Championships, the most recent being the men’s victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for the title in November 2011. After defeating CMS and Redlands earlier this month, the women’s team is currently ranked first in Division III.
Rodriguez was named Division III Coach of the Year last week for his success with the men’s water polo team in the fall by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC).
The team finished with an overall record of 15-20, going 9-1 in SCIAC to take first place in the conference. The Sagehens were led by first team All-Americans Kyle Pokorny PO ’12 and Jason Cox PZ ’13, along with second team All-Americans Cody Moore PO ’13 and Mark Hudnall PO ’13.
Rodriguez has shown what he can do with a small Division III team with no athletic scholarships. The men’s team is known to pull big upset victories over teams ranked in Division I, including St. Francis and Navy.
With a SCIAC Championship for the men’s water polo team under his belt, Rodriguez moved to the women’s team. When he learned of the women’s new number one rank in Division III, Rodriguez said with a smile, “I like being top dog.”
Rodriguez enjoys putting the Hens against the best of Division I teams for season-opening games. This gives his players the opportunity to not only watch but experience the best water polo in the nation, sets them up for miraculous wins and thoroughly prepares them for anything SCIAC foes can throw at them.
It is Rodriguez’s devotion to and passion for excellence in the P-P water polo program that makes him the most respected coach in Division III water polo.