Claire Linney
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- Title:
- Assistant Coach
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- Email:
- clinney@scu.edu
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- Year:
- Eighth
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- College:
- Santa Clara '09
Claire Linney is in her eighth season at Santa Clara.
Linney is in her first season as the head coach of the women's water polo program. She has spent all eight years as an assistant for the men's water polo team.
A former Broncos player, Linney was elevated to head women's coach in September 2021. She was the assistant coach of the team her first seven seasons.
The native of Watsonville, California, 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 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.