Brett Ormsby began coaching at JSerra in 2018 as the Head Boys Water Polo Coach. Coach Ormsby competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. A four-time All-American and 2004 National Player of the Year at UCLA, Ormsby completed his standout Bruin career (2001-04) as the school’s second all-time leading scorer and captained his team to an NCAA championship as a senior in 2004.
Ormsby built the water polo program at Cathedral Catholic into a powerhouse, leading them to their first CIF championship in school history in 2009, and then following that up with four consecutive championships from 2012-2015. Following his nine-year stint at Cathedral Catholic, Ormsby spent one year as an assistant at Stanford University before returning to Southern California, and joining JSerra. In 2019, Ormsby's second year at the helm, he led the Lions to their first CIF Championship in school history at the Division 4 Level. Three years later, having risen to the Open Division, Ormsby led the Lions to victory at the North South Championship, the most prestigious high school water polo invitational, as well as a runner up finish in the CIF Open Division and Champion of the CIF Southern California Regional.
Ormsby has also been active on the club front. He is the founder and builder of two of the most successful club programs in the country. He founded Del Mar Water Polo Club in 2008 and served as club director from 2008-2016. He led the club to its first National Championship at US Club Champs in 2012, and to its first Junior Olympic medal in 2013. He continues to support the club from a board position, and loves to see the growth and success the club has experienced in recent years. His son, Gavin, got his water polo start at the club this past year, joining the 10U White team. In 2021, he founded Mission Water Polo Club as an affiliate of DMWPC, with the goal to provide year-around club training and competition for JSerra athletes. Mission has competed in three Junior Olympics (2021-2023), winning their first medal, bronze at 18U level, in 2022. They followed that up with a silver at the 16U level and another bronze at the 18U level in 2023. Mission high school age groups are designed to help prepare the returning JSerra athletes for their upcoming high school season. Beginning in the fall of 2023 Mission will begin to offer age group programming open to everyone. Ormsby's former colleague from Stanford University, Jon Barnea, will lead the age group program.
Ormsby also spent years coaching at the national team level. From 2010-2012 he served as the Head Coach of the Cadet National team. In 2013, he served as Assistant Coach of the Junior National Team. From 2017-2019 he served as Head Coach of the Youth National Team. During his tenure with the national teams he coached in major international tournaments such as Youth and Junior World Championships, gaining amazing experience. In 2020, Ormsby stepped away from the national team in order to be able to spend more time with family, as well as focus more attention on his high school and club teams. He continues to follow the national teams closely, is passionate about the success of our national teams, and appreciates the opportunity to develop athletes at the grassroots high school and club level who can go on to perform for the United States.
Ormsby was a history major at UCLA, and teaching United States History and coaching water polo are two of his great passions. He loves the opportunity to have his athletes in class and to be able to engage with them on the academic side of campus, to interface with their teachers, and to see how the team interacts at break and lunch.
Ormsby is married to 2004 Olympian and UCLA water polo legend, Thalia Ormsby (Munro). They have two kids, Gavin, (12), and Anika, (10), and unsurprisingly the family loves their time around the water, at their local pool, and the beaches of Encinitas, where they reside.
Jon Barnea, who concluded his 16th season with the Stanford University men's water polo program in 2021, was instrumental in establishing Stanford as one of the nation’s premier programs, leading the Cardinal to a 300-95 (.759) overall record. Barnea played a key role in the Cardinal’s success, highlighted by the 2019 NCAA championship, three NCAA title matches, six NCAA appearances, and four MPSF conference championships.
During his time on The Farm, Barnea helped mentor 5 Olympians including Ben Hallock (2020, 2016), Alex Bowen (2020, 2016), Dylan Woodhead (2020), Drew Holland (2020), and Brett Bonnani (2016), as well as 82 All-MPSF selections and 78 All-America selections overall.
Maintaining a culture of academic excellence was also something Barnea valued and helped foster during his time at Stanford, where the program regularly finished as one of the highest academic achieving teams in the country. During his tenure, the Cardinal had over 150 individual selections to All-MPSF Academic Teams, and over 200 individual selections to the American Water Polo Coaches Association All-Academic Teams.
Along with his roles and responsibilities as Assistant Coach at Stanford University Barnea played a major role in the success of the Stanford Water Polo Club, where he served as Director and Head Coach. Under his guidance, Stanford WPC became the largest boys club in the country, and twice received USA Water Polo’s Chairmans Cup Award given to the top boys club program in the country. In addition, Stanford WPC claimed six Junior Olympic Championships, and consistently placed in the top-10 at USWP National Championships. Barnea, and his coaching staff, helped mentor hundreds of athletes who went on to have successful high school and college playing careers. Of the many accomplishments that he looks back on during his time at Stanford WPC, hearing how many program alums are still in touch with each other well after moving on, and, having many former athletes come back to the program as coaches, stand out as some of his favorites.
Prior to arriving at Stanford, Barnea spent 3 years as Head Coach at Palo Alto High School, 2 Years as the Pacific Zone Development Coach, 2 Years as an Assistant Coach for the National Development Team, and 3 years coaching with the Santa Barbara Water Polo Foundation.
In his three years at Mission, Barnea's teams have consistency finished as one of the top 14U teams in the country, finishing in the top 5 every year at Junior Olympics and capturing Bronze in 2024. In 2024 Barnea was named the recipient of the the Southern Pacific 2024 Ted Newland Distinguished Coach of the Year.
Barnea graduated from UCSB in 2002 with a degree in Anthropology. He and his wife Teresa have two boys, Asher (14) and Desmond (12).
Ethan Damato currently serves as the Head Coach of the USA Women’s Junior National Team and the Head Coach of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Women’s Academy Program. Most recently, he guided the Junior National Team to a gold medal at the 2025 Junior World Championships, adding to his international success that began with a gold medal at the 2022 Youth World Championships.
In 2025, Damato took over as Head Coach of the JSerra Catholic High School Girls Water Polo Program, where he is building on his long history of success at the scholastic level. From 2008–2022, he was the Head Coach of Laguna Beach High School’s Boys & Girls Water Polo programs, helping lead his alma mater to league championships in 14 of his 15 seasons and 9 CIF Championships.
In addition, from 2010–2022 he was on the coaching staff at SET Water Polo Club, serving as head coach of the 16U and 18U girls teams as well as the club’s Technical Director.
Over the years, Damato has also held a variety of roles with USA Water Polo, ranging from ODP Zone Coach to assistant coach on multiple national teams. His leadership and development expertise ultimately led to head coaching opportunities with the USA Women’s Youth and Junior National Teams, where he has continued to build championship-caliber programs on the international stage.
Jon Millers is a Trabuco Hills High School graduate from the class of ‘94. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a focus on History, along with a Teaching Credential and a Master’s Degree in Education from Concordia University.
Since 2002, he has been a middle school history teacher in Irvine. During his tenure, Jon transformed Sierra Vista Middle School’s National History Day program into one of the nation’s top programs, consistently sending students to compete at the national level at the University of Maryland. In recognition of his dedication, he was honored as the Patricia Behring National History Day Teacher of the Year in 2016.
Jon’s coaching journey began with the SET Water Polo Club, where he oversaw remarkable growth, expanding the program from 25 athletes to over 200 year-round participants. His coaching prowess led his teams to clinch 6 Junior Olympic championships, and in 2008, SET received the prestigious USA Water Polo Chairman’s Cup. Jon and the coaching team at SET also mentored numerous athletes who later achieved success in both high school and college water polo. One notable alumnus, Garret Danner, who trained under Coach Jon for 5 years, earned the Peter J. Cutino Award while representing UCLA in 2015.
With extensive coaching experience, Jon excels in honing swimming techniques, fostering water polo fundamentals, and advancing high-level tactical skills. He and his wife Lindsay, along with their two sons Colton (14) and Keaton (12), make their home in Laguna Hills.
Coach Dylan Mobley has spent nearly two decades immersed in the highest levels of American water polo — as a national team athlete, NCAA competitor, and coach within some of the country's premier high school and club programs.
Growing up playing for Stanford Water Polo Club, his team had several top finishes, including a third-place finish at the 18U Junior Olympics. He attended Sacred Heart Preparatory, where he contributed to the school's first CIF-CCS title in 2003 and a third-place finish in 2004. He registered a first-place finish at the National Age Group Championships with the 18U Pacific Zone Team. He was selected to compete with the USA Cadet (16U) and Youth (18U) National Teams, competing in Istanbul, Sicily, and Germany. He finished his career at UCLA, one of the sport's most storied collegiate programs, where he gained invaluable experience under championship-level coaching.
As a coach, Dylan began at Los Angeles Water Polo Club, coaching all ages across both the boys' and girls' programs. He built teams that registered top finishes at several elite competitions, including a National Championship at Junior Olympics with the LAWPC 18U girls as an assistant coach. He was then asked to join the coaching staff at Harvard-Westlake, where he assisted Head Coach Robert Lynn in running one of the top water polo programs in the country. Many of the athletes he coached there went on to play college water polo at UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Princeton, and Harvard. He continued his coaching career alongside Robert Lynn at Newport Harbor High School and Newport Beach Water Polo Club. Most recently, Dylan completed two successful seasons with San Clemente Water Polo Club, where he helped lead the 12U boys to a top-12 national finish, continuing to build his reputation for developing young athletes through strong fundamentals, accountability, and a love for the game.
Dylan believes that the most successful programs are those that invest equally in athletic excellence and personal growth. His coaching philosophy emphasizes building exceptional fundamentals, developing water polo IQ, fostering resilience, and creating a team-first culture where athletes are encouraged to compete with confidence, discipline, and integrity. He is passionate about creating an environment where every player is challenged, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Those values closely align with Mission Water Polo Club's commitment to fostering an environment where young people can develop and flourish—not only as athletes, but as teammates, leaders, and individuals. Dylan's goal is to help athletes build the habits, character, and competitive mindset that will serve them long after their playing careers have ended.
One of the most accomplished players in UCLA history, Sean Kern joins the Mission WPC coaching staff as an assistant Age Group coach.
Kern’s list of awards is impressive: four-time All-American, two-time National Player of the Year, two-time NCAA champion, three-time UCLA team scoring leader and U.S. Olympic Team member. He was also named to the Pac-12 All-Century Water Polo Team.
Kern led the Bruins to two consecutive national titles and performed best in the big games. He scored four times in UCLA’s improbable 6-5, come-from-behind victory over Stanford in the 1999 NCAA final and notched two more in the 2000 title game win over UC San Diego.
After the 1999 season, Kern was honored as the first-ever male recipient of the Peter J. Cutino Award, the water polo equivalent of the Heisman Trophy. He was also named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament each of his last two seasons.
Kern went to UCLA in 1997 as the top-ranked recruit in the country. He had led Honolulu powerhouse Punahou HS to three consecutive league titles and personally earned three league Player of the Year awards.
Kern’s dream of reaching the Olympics was realized when he was named to the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that competed in Sydney. Kern scored three goals in the Olympics and helped Team U.S.A. to a sixth-place finish.
Kern currently works as Senior Director at Cushman Wakefield and focuses on office leasing and tenant representation in the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire and North Orange County. Kern and his wife Brooke reside in Foothill Ranch with their two sons, Owen (14) and Drew (11).
Following a great playing career at the international, national and collegiate levels, where he was known for his resilience, sharp reflexes, and steady presence under pressure, Jack Turner join's Mission Water Polo Club's staff as Goalie Coach and 14U Assistant Coach.
A standout at UC San Diego, Turner was named the 2018 Division II Player of the Year and later became a team captain, finishing his collegiate career ranked among the Tritons’ all-time leaders in saves. His journey is defined as much by perseverance as by talent—after suffering a broken back in a 2017 car accident, Turner made a remarkable recovery to debut with the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team at the 2018 FINA World Cup in Berlin. Since then, he has represented the United States at major international events including the 2019 World University Games, the 2022 FINA World League Super Final, and the 2023 World Aquatics World Cup in Los Angeles.
Professionally, Turner has gained valuable international experience competing in Europe, including with VK-JUG’s practice squad in Croatia and currently with CN Mataró in Spain. His career has already featured standout performances on the world stage, including a 23-save effort at the 2022 World League Super Final and consistent contributions in goal for Team USA.
Beyond the pool, Turner is an aerospace engineering major with aspirations of working in the space industry, reflecting the same discipline and curiosity that fuel his athletic career. A Bellarmine College Prep graduate and San Jose native, he credits both his family and his late-blooming passion for water polo with shaping his path toward representing his country at the highest level.
With more than three decades of coaching and teaching experience, Coach McCord brings a proven track record of developing athletes, building successful programs, and creating positive team cultures. A former player at Saddleback High School and Santa Ana College, he began his coaching career as the head boys' water polo coach at Saddleback High School in 1991. Over the next 17 seasons, he transformed a program whose athletes had little to no prior club experience into one of Orange County's most competitive teams. Under his leadership, Saddleback captured six league championships, reached two CIF semifinal appearances, and produced three NCAA Division I student-athletes. His accomplishments earned him both the Orange County Register Boys' Water Polo Coach of the Year and CIF Division 2 Co-Coach of the Year honors in 1999. He later served as the Head Men's Water Polo Coach at Orange Coast College, guiding the Pirates to consecutive top-seven state rankings before stepping away to focus on his family and teaching career.
After returning to the deck with SOCAL Water Polo in 2022, Coach McCord quickly demonstrated his passion for athlete development by leading the 10U program to fourth- and second-place finishes in the Junior Olympics Platinum Division while helping lay the foundation for players who would go on to become key contributors at the 12U level. His coaching philosophy centers on teaching strong fundamentals, maintaining fast-paced and organized practices, emphasizing disciplined team defense and transition offense, and preparing athletes to compete with confidence. Just as importantly, he believes youth sports should help shape character, encouraging players to become respectful, accountable, hardworking teammates who put the team first. Coach also values a strong partnership with families, fostering an environment where parents provide positive support while allowing athletes to learn, compete, and grow independently.
Marko Ilić is a Serbian water polo coach and former professional player with international experience competing at the highest levels of the sport. A former member of the Serbian National Team, Serbian Cup Champion, and Serbian First League Champion, he continued his career as an NCAA Division I student-athlete at UC Santa Barbara, where he brought elite international experience to one of the nation's top collegiate water polo programs. He holds a B.Sc. in Physical Education and Sport with a specialization in Strength and Conditioning, along with a Business Leadership certification from UC Santa Barbara.
Following his playing career, Marko has quickly established himself as a coach dedicated to developing complete athletes. As Assistant Water Polo Coach at the University of California, Merced, he led strength and conditioning sessions, helped plan and execute practices, conducted film analysis and opponent scouting, supported recruiting efforts, coordinated team operations, and provided individualized athlete development focused on performance, academics, and goal setting. He has also coached with Channel Islands United Water Polo Club coaching athletes of all ages and ability levels, and served as a volunteer coach with the UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo program, helping athletes improve their technical skills, tactical understanding, and competitive mindset.
Marko's coaching philosophy is rooted in individualized, science-based athlete development that combines technical excellence, strength and conditioning, leadership, and sports psychology. He believes every athlete has unique potential and strives to create an environment that challenges players to grow with confidence, resilience, and purpose. Passionate about continuous learning and high-performance culture, Marko is committed to helping athletes achieve success both in competition and beyond the pool.