Mater Dei’s Boys Water Polo Program has a long-standing reputation for excellence, with a tradition of producing elite athletes who compete at the collegiate, national, and Olympic levels. We are proud to announce the appointment of Erik Zimmerman as the program’s new head coach. Zimmerman joins the Monarchs after coaching the Corona del Mar (CDM) Aquatics Federation in Newport Beach. He brings with him an exceptional record of success as both a coach and athlete but more important, he has a passion for holistically developing student athletes in and out of the pool.
Most recently, Zimmerman served as Head Coach for both the mens and womens water polo programs at Westcliff University, where he led his teams to remarkable achievements. Under his leadership, Westcliff earned back-to-back California Pacific Conference (CALPAC) Coach of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024, and Zimmerman was named the 2024 NAIA Collegiate National Coach of the Year. Prior to his head coaching role, he served as Westcliff’s assistant coach, bringing strategic insight and competitive excellence to both programs.
As a player, Zimmerman’s athletic career is equally distinguished. He is a Collegiate All-American in both water polo and swimming, a California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) all-time record holder with 379 career goals, including 212 goals in a single season and 14 goals in a single game which are records that still stand. He earned All-CIF, All-State, All-Conference, All-League, and Most Valuable Player honors, and signed a professional contract with Budapest VSC in Hungary. During his professional career, he trained under two-time Hungarian Olympic gold medalist Miklos “Nick” Martin.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Zimmerman to the Mater Dei family,” said Dr. Kenneth Miller, Executive Director of Athletics. “His record of competitive success, his dedication to player development, and his passion for the sport make him the ideal leader for our Boys Water Polo Program. We are confident he will continue the tradition of excellence while helping us form young men with Honor, Glory, and Love.”
Zimmerman expressed his excitement about joining the Monarchs. “Mater Dei is a place with an incredible tradition in athletics and a commitment to excellence in all areas. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the Boys Water Polo Program and look forward to helping this talented group of young men grow as athletes, students, and leaders.”