California State University, Monterey Bay Women's Water Polo

Emily Schmit became the second head coach in CSUMB water polo history in September of 2016. She came to CSUMB from Cal, where she earned her fourth Sierra Pacific Conference Coach of the Year Award in 2016. She led the Golden Bear club team to the 2015 national collegiate championship.  Schmit has been at the helm of the CSUMB Water Polo program for eight years. She has coached two ACWPC All-Americans and 11 WWPA All-Conference selections. One of Schmit’s student-athletes, Stella Martin set the program record for most assists in a single season as a true freshman with 49 in 2024.  Academically, Schmit has coached 48 ACWPC All-Academic selections.     In 2023, Coach Schmit led the Otters to their first ever trip to the WWPA Championship match. Despite being the fourth seed out of the west region, the Otters upset the #1 seed out of the East, McKendree University, and the number #2 seed from the west, Cal State East Bay, before falling in a tightly contested match to top seeded Biola. For this outstanding effort, Coach Schmit was named the 2023 WWPA Co-Coach of the Year Schmit got her start in collegiate coaching by leading the men’s and women’s club teams at the University of Arizona. In 2008, she coached the women’s team to a fourth-place finish at the National Collegiate Club Championships. The Wildcat women’s team also won consecutive Southwest Conference titles during her time on the deck. On the men’s side, Schmit saw both the “A” and “B” teams finish first and second in the Southwest Conference, making U of A the first program to accomplish that feat. She was recognized as the Southwest Conference Coach of the Year for both the women and the men in 2007 and the women in 2008. Schmit left Arizona to become the men’s and women’s head coach at De Anza College. She led the school’s women’s program in 2008, its first year of competition. As a result of her success in that role, Schmit was asked to take on head coaching duties over the men’s team a year later. Following her stint at DeAnza, Schmit served as women’s (2011–13) and men’s (2012–13) varsity assistant coach at the University of the Pacific. Schmit played collegiately at Indiana University, helping the Hoosiers reach the national championship tournament in 1997 and 1999. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history and gender studies from IU in 2001. She went on to earn a J.D. from Arizona as well as master’s degrees from both Arizona (women’s studies) and Pacific (health, exercise and sport science). She is a 2019 graduate of the NCAA WeCoach Academy and a 2023 graduate of the NCAA WeCoach Academy 2.0. A respected member of the CSUMB faculty, Coach Schmitt was honored with the "Outstanding Mentoring Award" at the 2022-23 Faculty Awards.  

Figueroa led Cal State Monterey Bay to their best-ever finish in the WWPA. The Otters finished 18-15 overall, including a semifinal appearance in the WWPA tournament. The season's sucess earned Figueroa the NCAA Division II Coach of the Year award. Figueroa was also named WWPA Coach of the Year. Figueroa brings a wealth of successful experience and visibility to the CSUMB water polo program. Figueroa comes to CSUMB after being the head water polo coach at Salinas High School and has been instrumental in the in the development of water polo throughout the local region with his youth instructional and development club programs. In his time at CSUMB, Figueroa has placed five players on the Collegiate Water Polo Association DII All-American teams and four on All-Western Water Polo Association teams. Under his guidance, two players have captured NCAA national records: Chelsea Laning for career & season goals and goalkeeper Jenna Beer in saves. Figueroa is a member of the US Water Polo Hall of Fame, an eight time US Water Polo All American and twice was named the National Player of the Year. Figueroa was a member of the US National Team from 1975-84. He earned a spot on the 1980 Olympic team but due to the United States boycott, was not able to compete. Four years later, Figueroa was a member of the Team USA who captured a silver medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He also led Team USA to two gold medals in the prestigious Pan American Games . Figueroa received his degree from the University of California, Irvine where his offensive performances still remain as standards in the sport. He was a three-time All-American in 1975, '76 and '77. Figueroa resides in Salinas with his wife Marlee.Gary Figueroa

Morgan Tucker came home to her alma mater to serve as assistant coach and coordinator of the Otter Aquatics Center in the summer of 2021. In 2023, Coach Tucker helped lead the Otters to their first ever WWPA Championship match. The Otters upset host McKendree and #2 seed Cal State East Bay, before dropping a tightly contested match against Biola. In her first season on staff, Tucker helped the Otters to a fifth place finish in the WWPA Tournament and a signature win over Santa Clara.    Prior to returning to The Bay, Tucker served as an assistant coach at San Diego State for the previous two seasons, working on player development and a variety of administrative functions. She also served as a head coach for the USA Water Polo Olympic Development Program. She left CSUMB ranked amongst the school's all–time leaders in multiple offensive and defensive categories. On the offensive side, she still ranks No. 5 all–time in goals. On the defensive end, she left ranked No. 13 on the Otter career steals list. She finished her collegiate playing career by earning All–WWPA and Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All–America honors as a senior in 2019. Tucker earned her bachelor of science degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science from CSUMB in 2019. She completed her masters in intercollegiate athletic leadership at the University of Washington in 2022. She is a 2023 graduate of the NCAA WeCoach Academy.