Saint Mary’s College Launches New Division I Aquatics Program

Moraga, CA — September 10, 2025 — Saint Mary’s College of California as we speak introduced the launch of a new Division I Aquatics program, including Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Men’s and Women’s Water Polo to its roster of NCAA sports activities. The initiative represents a big growth of athletic and co-curricular alternatives for college students, reinforcing the College’s mission to place college students on the heart of all it does.

The new program will create alternatives for about 80 student-athletes at its launch, with progress projected to develop to 100. Program growth is already underway—together with the hiring of coaches, figuring out coaching amenities, and recruiting student-athletes—with intercollegiate competitors set to start within the 2026–27 educational 12 months. The addition comes at a time when Saint Mary’s can also be bolstering alternatives in its Spirit Team, Dance and Cheer Teams, and SMC Pep Band packages, which collectively are anticipated to develop from 30 to as many as 60 members.

“While many NCAA institutions across the country are scaling back athletics, Saint Mary’s is making a bold commitment to expand opportunities for students,” mentioned Saint Mary’s President Roger Thompson, whose op-ed on the topic was published within the San Francisco Chronicle in March. “Our new Aquatics program builds on the Bay Area’s rich tradition in swimming and water polo, and affirms our belief that athletics are a vital part of the student experience.”

Saint Mary’s Aquatics groups will compete on the highest ranges of collegiate athletics by established nationwide conferences.

In Swimming, the Gaels will be part of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), a convention that features a number of robust Division I packages throughout the West. Women’s Water Polo will compete within the Golden Coast Conference, going through packages equivalent to these at Loyola Marymount, Fresno State, and others. Men’s Water Polo will compete within the West Coast Conference (WCC), aligning with Saint Mary’s longstanding convention residence.

 “We are happy to welcome Saint Mary’s College to the MPSF as the Gaels launch their men’s and women’s swimming programs,” mentioned MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis. “Starting new programs is a significant commitment, and we congratulate Saint Mary’s on taking this important step for its student-athletes. We look forward to seeing the Gaels compete in the MPSF and to supporting the growth of collegiate swimming.”

“We are very excited about the addition of Saint Mary’s College to the Golden Coast Conference in 2026-27,” mentioned Dan Smith, GCC Commissioner. “Anytime an institution decides to sponsor the sport for the first time, it’s great for water polo. This will be great for Saint Mary’s, and it’s great for our conference.”

Investing in a New Era

To launch this system, Saint Mary’s has established a partnership with close by Campolindo High School, which can present use of its Olympic-size swimming pool and Soda Aquatics Center. Looking forward, the College shall be creating a state-of-the-art aquatics facility of its personal within the coming years, with very important help anticipated from donors, alumni, aquatics fans, and associates of Saint Mary’s.

To start shaping this imaginative and prescient, President Thompson is forming the Saint Mary’s Aquatics Leadership Council, which can convey collectively exterior supporters, aquatics leaders, and Olympic athletes to assist information the planning course of.

“Our vision for aquatics at Saint Mary’s will only be realized through the passion and generosity of those who care deeply about this sport,” says President Thompson. “This is a unique moment to make a meaningful impact—not just for today’s student-athletes, but for the countless Gaels and community members who will benefit from a dedicated aquatics home for decades to come. Together, we can build something enduring, something that reflects the values of our College and the deep tradition of excellence in aquatics across California.”

A Regional Hub, with National Support

California has lengthy been a middle of excellence in aquatics, with world-class highschool packages and a deep tradition of swimming and water polo. By launching Aquatics in Moraga—within the coronary heart of the Bay Area’s swimming tradition—Saint Mary’s is tapping into one of many nation’s strongest expertise pipelines whereas additionally aligning with a neighborhood that lives and breathes the game. The College has already secured a partnership with close by Campolindo High School, whose Olympic-size pool and Soda Aquatics Center will present coaching and competitors area, complemented by the College’s personal Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, a each day residence base for student-athletes and coaches.

The launch of Aquatics at Saint Mary’s has already drawn enthusiastic help from leaders throughout the nationwide aquatics neighborhood, who see the College’s funding as a significant contribution to the expansion of swimming and water polo in California and past.

“We are incredibly excited about the investment Saint Mary’s is making in both swimming and water polo,” mentioned Joel Shinofield, Managing Director, Sport Development at USA Swimming. “Not only are they investing in opportunities for students, but they’re committed to building successful D-I programs where those student-athletes will thrive. California and the East Bay have an incredibly rich history in swimming and are home to some of our most successful clubs. Coaches are thrilled about the possibilities for the swimmers they coach to experience athletic and academic success at a college that changes lives.”

Maggie Steffens, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in ladies’s water polo (2012, 2016, and 2020) and co-founder of 6-8 Sports, Inc., calls Saint Mary’s and water polo a “natural fit.” “As someone who grew up chasing the Olympic dream in the East Bay, it’s inspiring to see Saint Mary’s College launch men’s and women’s D-1 water polo programs, amplifying the exposure and opportunity for future generations to pursue their dreams,” Steffens mentioned. “Both Saint Mary’s and water polo share similar values—hard work, family, community, and the pursuit of excellence. The local community has always supported aquatic sports, and I know this will only bring greater pride to the East Bay and Northern California.”

“Saint Mary’s decision to add men’s and women’s water polo is a tremendous win for our sport,” mentioned Jamie Davis, CEO of USA Water Polo. “The Bay Area is one of the great centers of water polo in the United States, and by investing in these programs, Saint Mary’s is helping to grow opportunities for student-athletes while deepening the sport’s roots in a region that already lives and breathes aquatics.”

That enthusiasm is shared by others within the swimming neighborhood. “The CSCAA congratulates Saint Mary’s College on the exciting decision to establish both men’s and women’s swimming programs,” mentioned Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America. “This strategic move not only complements the campus and the mission of the school, but also builds on its location within a thriving hub of swimming excellence. We look forward to partnering with President Thompson and his team  to launch these programs in a meaningful and sustainable way.”

The College’s first precedence shall be to rent head coaches for Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Water Polo, with place postings going stay September 15 and appointments anticipated by mid-October. “We are committed to hiring coaches who not only bring a track record of competitive success, but who also embody the values that make Saint Mary’s unique,” mentioned Mike Matoso, SMC’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. “Their leadership will be critical as we build programs that reflect excellence in the pool and the classroom, and that provide a transformative experience for our student-athletes.”

With this basis of regional energy and nationwide endorsement, Aquatics will be part of perennial nationwide contenders like Gaels Basketball in elevating Saint Mary’s profile on the Division I stage.

Creating Academic Opportunities Focused on Health Sciences

In addition to those new alternatives in Athletics, Saint Mary’s continues to broaden pathways for college students by new educational choices.

This fall, the College launched a totally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing, pairing rigorous medical coaching with a holistic Lasallian liberal arts basis. Along with that, a brand new Bachelor of Science in Public Health main has debuted, designed each to face by itself and to supply a seamless transition into the Nursing program for these taken with healthcare management, coverage, and neighborhood well-being. These initiatives underscore Saint Mary’s dedication to nurturing compassionate professionals and addressing crucial wants in California’s healthcare panorama.

About Saint Mary’s College of California

At Saint Mary’s College of California, we encourage minds, interact with the world, and create alternatives for college students to search out their lives reworked. With small class sizes and professors who know you by identify, the Saint Mary’s expertise empowers college students to thrive—whether or not you are an undergraduate or knowledgeable searching for the following step in your profession.

Founded in 1863, the University is pleased with our Lasallian heritage and the way it fuels instructing and studying in an inclusive and splendidly numerous neighborhood. Nearly 2,800 Gaels examine on our Bay Area campus nestled within the rolling hills of Moraga, simply 23 miles east of San Francisco. US News and World Report places SMC among the many prime 5 regional universities within the West. You’ll additionally discover Saint Mary’s highlighted within the information Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges—the one Catholic faculty and the primary college in California to make the record.