Snodgrass Named CBU Women’s Water Polo Head Coach
6/17/2022 9:00:00 AM | Women's Water Polo
RIVERSIDE – California Baptist University announced the hiring of Julie Snodgrass, the 2018 NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year, as the new head women's water polo coach on Wednesday.
"We are excited Julie is coming home to CBU," President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis said. "As a Division II National Coach of the Year, Julie has done an outstanding job preparing herself to be a Division I head coach. We're excited to have her back on CBU's campus."
Snodgrass, a former CBU student-athlete, returns to Riverside after serving as the head coach at Azusa Pacific the past 11 years. Snodgrass is APU's all-time winningest coach, with 123 wins, highlighted by the two most successful seasons in APU history during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. The Cougars registered double-digit wins seven consecutive seasons, with a program-best 19 wins in 2019.
Over the last eight years under Snodgrass, 13 Cougars have combined for 20 NCAA Division II All-America honors, while eight players totaled 13 All-Golden Coast Conference awards, along with nine GCC All-Freshman Team selections. Additionally, she coached the 2021 Division II Player of the Year (Milena Guzmán Ortiz) and 2015 Golden Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year (Alba Espinar).
"I am thrilled to have Julie as the new head coach of our women's water polo program," Director of Athletics Tyler Mariucci said. "During the search process, we had several exceptional candidates, but Julie separated herself with her successful head coaching experience and plan to build a championship culture here at CBU."
Julie played four years (2005-08) at CBU, earning ACWPC All-Academic honors throughout her career while tallying 133 career goals, 112 assists and 137 steals. She helped lead the Lancers to program-records for season win totals in two of her four collegiate seasons, including a 26-win campaign in her senior year when CBU won the NAIA National Invitational Tournament.
"I am really excited to get a chance to come back to CBU after all these years," Snodgrass said. "I have admired watching it grow from a distance, and it seems full circle to be blessed to be a part of the continued growth of the school and the program. I am looking forward to getting to work and taking this program to the next level."
Snodgrass began her coaching career as an assistant girl's water polo coach in 2006 at her high school alma mater, Rowland High in Rowland Heights. She took her first head coaching position at San Dimas High in 2009, guiding the Saints' water polo program while also leading the girl's swim team to a 10th-place team finish at the CIF Championships. Snodgrass also worked with USA Water Polo as the Coastal Zone head coach (2013-16), aiding in the selection process for the National Training Camps where athletes are selected for National Teams.
"We are excited Julie is coming home to CBU," President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis said. "As a Division II National Coach of the Year, Julie has done an outstanding job preparing herself to be a Division I head coach. We're excited to have her back on CBU's campus."
Snodgrass, a former CBU student-athlete, returns to Riverside after serving as the head coach at Azusa Pacific the past 11 years. Snodgrass is APU's all-time winningest coach, with 123 wins, highlighted by the two most successful seasons in APU history during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns. The Cougars registered double-digit wins seven consecutive seasons, with a program-best 19 wins in 2019.
🏡 𝑾𝑬𝑳𝑪𝑶𝑴𝑬 𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲 🏡
— California Baptist Women's Water Polo (@LancersWWP) June 17, 2022
Julie Snodgrass returns to become the fifth head coach in program history. The Lancer alumna and former NCAA Division II Coach of the Year spent the last 11 seasons at Azusa Pacific. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/1JPlevjtno
Over the last eight years under Snodgrass, 13 Cougars have combined for 20 NCAA Division II All-America honors, while eight players totaled 13 All-Golden Coast Conference awards, along with nine GCC All-Freshman Team selections. Additionally, she coached the 2021 Division II Player of the Year (Milena Guzmán Ortiz) and 2015 Golden Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year (Alba Espinar).
"I am thrilled to have Julie as the new head coach of our women's water polo program," Director of Athletics Tyler Mariucci said. "During the search process, we had several exceptional candidates, but Julie separated herself with her successful head coaching experience and plan to build a championship culture here at CBU."
Julie played four years (2005-08) at CBU, earning ACWPC All-Academic honors throughout her career while tallying 133 career goals, 112 assists and 137 steals. She helped lead the Lancers to program-records for season win totals in two of her four collegiate seasons, including a 26-win campaign in her senior year when CBU won the NAIA National Invitational Tournament.
"I am really excited to get a chance to come back to CBU after all these years," Snodgrass said. "I have admired watching it grow from a distance, and it seems full circle to be blessed to be a part of the continued growth of the school and the program. I am looking forward to getting to work and taking this program to the next level."
Snodgrass began her coaching career as an assistant girl's water polo coach in 2006 at her high school alma mater, Rowland High in Rowland Heights. She took her first head coaching position at San Dimas High in 2009, guiding the Saints' water polo program while also leading the girl's swim team to a 10th-place team finish at the CIF Championships. Snodgrass also worked with USA Water Polo as the Coastal Zone head coach (2013-16), aiding in the selection process for the National Training Camps where athletes are selected for National Teams.
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