University of Redlands Men's Water Polo

Whittemore came to the University of Redlands in 1988 following a two-year assistant coaching stint at his alma mater, Claremont McKenna College. Since joining the Bulldog staff, he has built the Redlands aquatic programs into national powerhouses, working at one time or another as the head mens and womens water polo and swimming coach, assistant swimming coach, and director of aquatics. In the Spring of 2014, Whittemore stepped down from the dual-coaching role and took on the responsibility of Chairing the Physical Education Department.  He remains at the helm of the men's water polo program. Whittemore has claimed nearly 800 total wins between the two water polo programs.  He earned his 400th men's water polo victory in 2009 with a 10-8 decision over Johns Hopkins University (MD).  He finished his women's water polo tenure with a career record of 394-250. As of the 2013 season, Whittemore owns eight conference men's championships. He was named the Western Water Polo Men's Coach of the Year in 1998, 2001 and 2004.  During the 2004 season, Whittemore guided the Bulldogs to their best finish at the WWPA Championships with a second-place showing. Overall, he has coached eight NCAA Division III Players of the Year, including three men and five women. From 1994-1999, Whittemore coached the Redlands women's water polo team to five-consecutive Collegiate III National Championships and added three more titles in 2002, 2004 and 2006. For his efforts, Whittemore was named the American Water Polo Association Coach of the Year six times. In addition, the Bulldogs became the first Division III school to participate in the newly-expanded NCAA Womens Water Polo Championships when the team captured the conferences automatic bid in 2005. That year Whittemore was named the Division III Coach of the Year while coaching the Division III Player of the Year. Since the womens water polo teams move to varsity status in 1994, Whittemore has guided the Bulldogs to 10 SCIAC championships, including four-straight from 2000-2003. Whittemore began his career at Redlands as the mens and womens swimming coach from 1988-1995. Under Whittemores tutelage, both teams continued to climb the conference ladder and develop for their future success. In 1993, the mens team snapped Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12-year, 60-dual meet streak in conference with a 124-81 victory. That year, one of his student-athletes, Greg Milton, captured the NCAA Division III Championship in the 100 Freestyle. Whittemore also guided the Bulldogs to the programs first SCIAC Championship in 1994. As a collegian, Whittemore was a four-year letterman in swimming and a three-time NCAA Division III qualifier at Claremont McKenna College. Currently, he enjoys sports and traveling in his free time. He is also an active member of the Redlands Hoop Shots youth group through the local YMCA. He also serves on the NCAA Women's Water Polo Committee.  Whittemore resides in Redlands with his wife, Leslie, and children, Tait and Maggie.

Hall returned to the University of Redlands in the fall of 2014 as the graduate assistant coach for the mens and womens water polo programs.  Two years later, he completed his Master of Arts in Higher Education from the School of Education and has since continued working with the Bulldogs as a part-time assistant coach.  En route to completing his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy in 2008, Hall put together an impressive water polo résumé at Redlands.  He garnered First-Team All-America and First-Team All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) accolades each season of his four-year career while donning the Maroon and Gray.  Furthermore, he was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Year in 2007. Halls name is scattered about the Redlands record book, as he ranks third all-time in points (194), fourth all-time in steals (200), and fourth all-time in ejections drawn (160). In regards to single-season records, he currently ranks seventh in ejections drawn (53). This well-rounded athlete also contributed to the high-octane offense of then-Head Coach Gary Smiths mens basketball team that reset multiple NCAA and school records for scoring in 2005-06.  Hall later competed for the more traditional style of basketball under Head Coach Jim Ducey in 2007-08. After graduation, Hall gained international playing experience by competing in semi-professional water polo in Sydney, Australia, in 2009-10. Prior to joining the Redlands coaching staff, Hall served as a Special Education instructor and a water polo coach in Mercer Island, WA.  One day, Hall would like to be the head coach of a collegiate water polo program. He is inspired to coach due to his passion for the sport and the desire to make a difference in someones life. Currently, he works at Lee & Associates in Ontario. Along with his enthusiasm for Bulldog water polo, Hall loves the Seattle sports teams, especially the Seattle Seahawks.

Gielen was named the Head Women's Water Polo Coach in August 2014.    Gielen became just the second head coach in the history of the Bulldog program, which dates back to 1994.  He replaced longtime head coach, Tom Whittemore, who took on more administrative responsibilities as the Chair of the Physical Education Department while also remaining at the helm of the Bulldog men's water polo program. Equipped with a unique repertoire of skills, Gielen joins the Bulldog family as an experienced water polo coach, chef, and instructor.  While working with the men and women at Pomona-Pitzer, he gained outstanding experience with a successful program that won a combined five conference titles since 2005.  He played an integral role in recruiting student-athletes, developing practice plans, implementing fitness training, and much more.  In his final year with the Sagehens, he was named the Associate Head Coach. In addition, he served as the Head Coach of the Foothill Club Water Polo boys' 18-and-under team for three seasons.  During that stint, he guided the squad to two top-five showings. Outside of water polo, Gielen offers the experiences of working as a Chef Instructor in a post-secondary program for more than seven years.  He also possesses a background as a strength and fitness trainer, ski instructor, and martial artist. Gielen began his educational career with an Associates of Science in Applied Sciences at Citrus Community College before completing his degree in Culinary Arts through Le Cordon Bleu.  The consummate student with a sincere desire to learn, he then earned his Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Cal State Fullerton and most recently received his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Argosy University. As a student-athlete, Gielen was named the Citrus College Male Athlete of the Year in 1998 after earning First-Team All-America honors, First-Team All-Southern California, and First-Team All-Conference honors in water polo.  His team also named him the Most Valuable Offensive Player that season.