Water Polo: Oeding moving on to Long Beach City

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - Chris Oeding, who coached at Orange Coast College for

the men’s water polo team as well as the swim teams, was named the head

men’s water polo coach at Long Beach City.

“I remember when I started at OCC five years ago,” Oeding said. “I had

played for years, but basically had no coaching experience whatsover.

People like Don Watson put me under their wing and got me going in the

right direction.”

Oeding, who played water polo at Corona del Mar High, is currently the

captain of the United States Olympic water polo team, which competes in

Sydney, Australia in September.

“It’s a great athletic program at OCC,” Oeding said. “From Jane, to all

the coaches on staff, it’s first-class all the way.”

Oeding has been at OCC coaching the men’s team since 1995. Last year, he

also coached the men’s and women’s swimming team, while assisting women’s

water polo coach Mike Giles.

During his tenure at Orange Coast, Oeding has amassed two Orange Empire

Conference titles for the men’s water polo program and is a two-time OEC

Coach of the Year.

“Watching him grow as a coach over the past five years has been wonderful

to see,” Athletic Director Jane Hilgendorf said. “Long Beach City was

able to offer Chris a full-time teaching and coaching position, which at

this time, we weren’t able to do. We’ll miss him terribly over here.”

Last year Oeding guided the Pirates to a 25-10-2 and a seventh-place

finish in the state.

“It’s tough walking away from something you were trying to build,

especially when things were going in the right direction,” Oeding said.

“Now I’ll be starting over again at Long Beach City, trying to get that

team rolling in the right direction.”

According to Hilgendorf, the vacant position will be filled as soon as

possible, with summer sessions right around the corner.

“It’s a part-time position for fall water polo as well as some

commitments for the swim programs in the spring,” Hilgendorf said. “We

want to start interviewing for the opening as early as late next week.”

For those interested in applying, contact Hilgendorf at (714) 432-5122

within the next few days.