Golden West College Men's Water Polo

Taylor became Head Coach at Golden West in 2002, he has boasted an impressive 298-26 record, winning 6 state Championships, 12 Southern California Championships and 13 Conference Titles.  Golden West has played in the State Championship Game 13 straight years since Taylor took over the program.  No other community college water polo program can match the success that GWC Mens Water Polo.   GWC has won four of the last 6 State Titles.  Coach Taylor take most pride in the fact that GWC student athletes matriculate on to Universities in a timely manner.  Golden West sends more student athletes to 4 year universities than any other in the State.  This past season, two GWC alumni coached by Taylor played in the NCAA final for UOP, along with several others who are currently playing at D-1.  We are very proud of our student athletes who matriculate on and follow their educational and athletes goals Prior to taking over the Rustler head coaching duties, Taylor served as an assistant with the GWC polo program under the Legendary Ken Hamdorf for three seasons, 1999, 2000, 2001. He also coaches and supervises the GWC swim program. Taylor began his coaching career at Marina High School in 1993, before moving on to his alma mater, Costa Mesa High in 1994. He coached both the boys and girls programs for the Mustangs through 1997. In 1998, Taylor took the position of coaching both the boys and girls squads at Rancho Santa Margarita High where the girls Team made each of the CIF final games, winning a CIF championship in 2001. As a player, Taylor won Back to Back CIF championships at Costa Mesa High School in 1986 and 1987. Taylor then helped the Rustlers win back-to-back state championships in 1989 and 90. Taylor was named state player of the year in 1990 at GWC.  After leaving GWC, he continued his playing career at UC Santa Barbara in 1991 and 1992. Taylor Graduated in 1993 with his BA degree and also completed his Masters Degree in March of 2008.  Coach Taylor and his lovely wife Rhonda live in San Clemente with their 2 dogs, Lucy and Cooper.

Johnson served as the Graduate Assistant Coach for University of the Pacific. During his senior season at Pacific, Johnson scored 23 goals while finding the net 14 times in 25 matches his junior season. As one of five players for the Tigers with 20 or more goals that season, he led the team in scoring six times. He also swam for the Tigers, competing in 100, 200, and 500 freestyle events and was a member of the 400 and 800 relay teams that won the Big West Conference Championships his senior season. Playing for the Green and Gold, Johnson helped lead the GWC program to a combined 67-5 record during his two seasons (98 and 99). Johnson was named the MVP of the South Coast Conference in 1999, and was selected both seasons to the Junior College All-America team. A local product from Westminster High, Johnson was a four-year letterman for the Lions and named the MVP of the Golden West League his senior year. He completed his BS in Computer Science and his MA Curriculum Instruction at Pacific.