Published September 3, 2024
BY DANIELA FOLEY
Carmel High School’s boys’ varsity water polo has welcomed a new head coach Jerome Smith, a former Division-I starter for University of California, Berkeley, to their 2024 season.
Jerome Smith has been a key addition to the varsity boys’ water polo team this year. (courtesy of JEROME SMITH)
Throughout his youth and collegiate career, Smith joined an array of top-tier teams within the California area, learning skills he is now bringing to CHS.
After playing for Hall of Fame coaches at Servite High school in Orange County, Smith continued to University of California, Berkeley, where he was a starting player all four years, a three-time NCAA Division I All-American, two-time team MVP, captain and runner-up NCAA Division I Player of the Year. The now CHS water polo coach also played briefly in the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Having experienced being on a team with strong collegiate coaches, Smith’s coaching style remains similar as he pushes his players to their fullest extent using a variety of techniques.
“I’m intense, and I stress the fundamentals,” says Smith. “As I’ve told the boys a number of times, I am never critical of a player for a lack of physical ability or a lack of experience. I have much less tolerance for a player exhibiting a lack of attentiveness or discipline.”
This year, the Padres has a leadership group of upperclassmen in the program. Having more experience on the team, these players can assist the integration of new players and strengthen the dynamic.
“A strong team involves a group of players buying into a small handful of core values and concepts,” says Smith. “We are fortunate to have great leadership from our upperclassmen. We would not be where we are today without guys like Boston Fisher, Alex Frederick, Jack Balas, Marc Kalman-Zulik and Landon Onitsuka, just to name a few.”
As the new addition to the CHS water polo team begins the season, Jerome Smith also emphasizes the importance of assistant coaches Parker Fisher, Kevin Hurley and Steve Willoughby.
The water polo team sprinted out into their season with games against Harbor and Everett Alvarez.Their next games will be at the Morro Bay Invitational on Sept. 6.
