Ross Sinclair named Newport Harbor boys’ water polo coach

Ross Sinclair has been named the new boys’ water polo coach at Newport Harbor High, Principal Sean Boulton announced Monday.

Sinclair has left his job as girls’ water polo coach at Corona del Mar High, where he told the players the news in an afternoon meeting on Monday, Boulton said.

Sinclair played water polo at Newport Harbor, before going on to compete at UC Santa Barbara.

This past season, Sinclair guided the Sea Kings to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals, a 23-7 record and a Pacific Coast League championship.

At UCSB, Sinclair was a three-time team captain and two-time NCAA All-American. He played five years abroad in Australia, Europe, and South America. He has had various experiences in coaching and teaching including being a well-known Junior Lifeguard Instructor and Lifeguard for Newport Beach.

Sinclair took over at CdM in 2013, for his cousin and former coach Sam Bailey, who guided the Sea Kings to their first CIF Southern Section Division 1 title, and went to coach at Beckman.

Last month, as club coach of CDM Aquatics, Sinclair was voted the tournament’s Top 18U Coach Award in leading the Southern Pacific Zone’s 18U girls to victory in the championship game.

Sinclair takes over at his alma mater for Marco Palazzo, an interim coach who guided the Sailors to a 10-17 record last fall and the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals. They finished tied for second in the Sunset League.

Palazzo was interim coach after Lynn resigned after three years amid controversy last August.