SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara has tabbed long-time assistant Claire Linney to lead the women's water polo team.

A former Bronco student-athlete, Linney has served as the top assistant for both the men's and women's programs under head coach Keith Wilbur for the last seven seasons. She will remain the assistant for the men with Wilbur serving as the assistant for the women.

"I am very excited to lead the Santa Clara women's water polo program," Linney said. "I would like to thank director of athletics Renee Baumgartner for the opportunity and Keith Wilbur for all he has done and will continue to do for the program, as well as his coaching mentorship the past seven years. I loved my time as a student-athlete and assistant coach at Santa Clara and look forward to continuing to push the program forward."

During here time as an assistant the men's team, she has seen four players receive ACWPC All-America honorable mention nods and 16 All-WWPA selections. In 2019 she helped lead the men's team to the semifinals of the WWPA Tournament.

On the women's side, she has coached three ACWPC All-America honorable mention honorees and nine All-GCC picks.

"We're excited to elevate Claire to the head women's water polo coach," director of athletics Renee Baumgartner said. "She has been a tremendous asset to the department and to both programs. She has a real passion and vision for enhancing the program. The future is bright."

From 2010-12 Linney served as an assistant coach at Cal State Monterey Bay where she helped the team to its best-ever finish the WWPA. The Otters finished 18-15 overall, including a semifinal appearance in the 2012 WWPA Tournament.

As a senior, Linney was Santa Clara 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.

"I am very excited about Claire being promoted to head coach of the Santa Clara women's water polo team," Wilbur said. "I had the privilege of coaching Claire when she played at Santa Clara. She had a great playing career, and she was our team co-captain and co-MVP her senior year. She has been coaching since she graduated, and she came back to Santa Clara as soon as the assistant coaching position opened up here. She has been a huge help to both the men's and women's programs as an assistant coach, and she has taken on more and more responsibilities every year. She is more than ready to take on the head coaching position for the women's team, and I know she is going to do an excellent job."

A native of Watsonville, California, Linney attended Aptos High School and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2014. Shegraduated from Santa Clara in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

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