Men's Water Polo Looks to Find Winning Ways With Hire of New Coach

The 2013 season will be led by head coach Troy L. Merkel.  This is his first year with Miramar College and is dedicated to strengthening and building a winning season.  Troy is no stranger to building successful water polo programs.

As head coach for the Mission Bay High School Varsity and Jr. Varsity boys' and girls' water polo and swim teams.  Troy brings with him seven seasons of head coaching success. He led the boys' team through two central league championships in 2008 and 2012 with six CIF appearances, and an overall record of 83-60.  He also led the girls' team to six consecutive league championships with seven CIF playoff appearances dating from 2007 to present.  The girls finished those seasons with a 35-0 league record and an overall record of 109-64. Troy was awarded San Diego CIF girl's water polo "Coach of the Year" in 2010. He is responsible for building a thriving aquatics program awarding Mission Bay High School its first banners for water polo in school history; a total of eight.  His players have gone on to play at the collegiate level for institutions like Harvard, Whittier, Cal Maritime, Cal Lutheran and various college club teams. 

Troy is a native of San Diego and has significant experience in competitive sports himself.  He graduated from Patrick Henry High School in 1994 where he played water polo, basketball, track and field, and swim.   After high school, he played water polo for Grossmont College in 1995 where the team competed in the State finals, only narrowly losing in triple overtime.  Troy was also part of the swim team for Grossmont College in 1996, joining the team in the State qualifiers.  After that season Troy transferred to Azusa Pacific University where he walked on to the track team in 1998 and was part of the relay team that finished fourth in the Nation awarding him All American honors.

Troy graduated Azusa Pacific University 1999 with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Social Science.  He has worked as a manager and area manager in sales, assistant director of a business improvement district and is currently a Realtor.  Troy plans to convey his  excellent work ethic and determination to Miramar College where he strategically prepares to develop a winning team while having fun doing so!