Men’s Water Polo Coach Mark Schmidt grew up in Ventura, graduating from Buena High School in 1990 and from Ventura College in 1993, playing water polo at both schools. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from UC Santa Cruz in 1995 with a double major in Philosophy and Sociology, and was a member of the club team at UCSC for three seasons, contributing to the first of two consecutive Pacific Northwest Collegiate Club Championships for the program his senior year. Returning to Ventura, he earned his teaching credential and was hired to teach social sciences and coach aquatics at Ventura High School. He has been teaching and coaching at the high school since 1998, led the Girls’ Water Polo program to their first Channel League Championship and CIF Finals berth in 2001 as the head coach, and led the Boys’ Water Polo program to two consecutive Channel League Championships and CIF Finals appearances in 2001 and 2002.

Since joining Ventura College in 2003, Schmidt has led the pirates to their first WSC title since 1988, two 2nd place WSC finishes, consistent playoff berths, including a 5th place finish in the 2006 SoCal Regional playoffs, and excellent academic performance.  He currently lives in Ventura with his wife Dana, and two sons, Connor and Brennan, and looks forward to leading the Pirates to future WSC titles, academic success, and competition in the state tournament.