Men's Water Polo

Keith Wilbur is in his 20th year at Santa Clara.

Wilbur has spent each of those seasons as head coach of the men's water polo team and the first 19 years also directing the women's water polo program.

Former Santa Clara player and his longtime assistant coach Claire Linney was elevated to head coach of the women's program in September, 2021. Wilbur is now serving as the assistant coach of the women's team.

Wilbur, an accomplished collegiate player, is the winningest coach in school history for both programs. He has recruited and coached six Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-Americans, led both men’s and women’s programs to their best-ever seasons, including taking the women to the 2009 Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Championship game and has twice been named WWPA Coach of the Year.

His men’s program achieved a No. 10 national ranking in 2009 by the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA), and both programs have enjoyed extended time ranked among the nation’s top 20. The women’s team's best ranking came in 2007, when the CWPA tabbed the Broncos No. 12.

Not only have his teams excelled athletically, his student-athletes have posted a 100 percent graduation rate on the women’s side and more than 95 percent on the men’s side.

The Broncos have consistently been recognized for their accomplishments outside the pool. In 2012, the women placed a league-best 11 student-athletes on the WWPA All-Academic team, and at the end of 2017 eight women landed on the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) All-Academic team.

The Broncos best-ever record on the men’s side came in 2009, when SCU went 22-12 and advanced into the WWPA semifinals, behind All-America driver Jack Wall, who finished his collegiate career among the most accomplished water polo players in school history.

The Bronco women’s best overall record of 25-8 occurred in 2006. In 2009, SCU was one win away from its first-ever NCAA tournament berth. Utility player Lindsey Bacolini was the program’s first Division I All-American in 2006 and lefty Amy Lamb was honored as an All-American in 2009.

Prior to being hired at Santa Clara, he served as the top assistant at San Jose State University in 2002, helping the Spartans rank as high as No. 6 nationally.

Following an outstanding playing career, which included a brief stint as a member of the U.S. National Team and competing in the 1997 World University Games in Sicily, Italy, he moved into coaching, getting his start at his high school alma mater Menlo School. Wilbur coached four high school All-Americans and led the team to the CCS Championship game three times in his four years at Menlo. Before his arrival, Menlo had never won a CCS playoff match.

Wilbur, who was hired in July 2002, is a 1996 honors graduate of Princeton University, earning his bachelor’s degree in economics.  He helped the Tigers win three Ivy League Championships as a goalie and team captain.