Claire Linney
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- Title:
- Head Coach
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- Phone:
- 408-551-3920
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- Email:
- clinney@scu.edu
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- Year:
- Eighth
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- College:
- Santa Clara '09
After eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Broncos' men's and women's water polo programs, former Bronco team captain and MVP, Claire Linney, is entering her second season at the helm of Santa Clara women's water polo in 2023.
Serving under head coach Keith Wilbur as an assistant for her first eight season, Linney was elevated to head women's coach in September 2021.
Linney guided the Broncos to seven wins in her first campaign in 2022. Under her leadership, senior center Lauren Baglietto earned a spot on the All-Golden Coast Conference Second Team after finishing in the top 10 of the league with 40 goals on the year.
The native of Watsonville, Calif., served as assistant coach at Cal State Monterey Bay from 2010-12. She helped the team to its best-ever finish in the Western Water Polo Association. The Otters finished 18-15 overall, including a semifinal appearance in the 2012 WWPA Tournament. Under her tutelage, Nikki Smart was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012.
In addition, she served as the head varsity boys coach at Salinas High School where was a two-time Monterey Bay League Coach of the Year.
Linney was first hired to the Santa Clara water polo staff in August 2014.
As a senior at Santa Clara, Linney was team captain and MVP. During that 2009 season, the Broncos made it to the WWPA Championship game, which was the best finish for the program at the conference tournament.
Linney played at Aptos High School and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2014.
She graduated from Santa Clara in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.