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Occidental Tabs Zubrin to Lead Men's and Women's Water Polo

Zubrin replaces longtime coach Dennis Fosdick, who died of cancer Feb. 1.

Zubrin comes to Occidental with more than eight years of successful high school coaching experience at Laguna Beach and El Modena high schools in Orange County. He has also led the Orange County boys’ and girls’ regional zone seven youth teams, working with some of the top high school players in the United States and evaluating talent for the U.S. National team.

While at El Modena, Zubrin led the girls’ water polo team to a top-10 ranking in Orange County, the first in school history, and helped Laguna Beach to its first-ever CIF championship in 2000, his first year with the team.

The Laguna women went 23-7 in 2002-03, losing to Villa Park in the CIF Semi-Finals, while the men finished 22-7 and lost in the quarterfinals to top-ranked Long Beach-Wilson.

At Occidental, Zubrin inherits a pair of programs that went through a rebuilding phase in 2002-03. With only two seniors, the Oxy men’s squad struggled to a 5-17 overall record, finishing sixth in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC).

The women’s team, which graduates just one player (four-time All-SCIAC selection Kate Whitchurch), posted an 8-18 overall record and fourth-place league finish.

Occidental women’s water polo won the Collegiate III national title in 2000, advanced to the championship in 2002, and has been to the national tournament in eight of the last nine years.

“Occidental has a lot of young and improving talent and, historically, the program has been very competitive,” Zubrin said. “This past season was difficult, but I know we can get back where we need to be and I’m looking forward to being part of it.” 

A native of Newport Beach, Zubrin holds an undergraduate degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is currently working toward a master’s in health science and education at National University in Costa Mesa. He will begin his duties at Occidental Aug. 1.