In 1979, Aaron Chaney helped the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos win an NCAA title in the pool, but he made an even bigger impact on the pool deck during a four-decade career as award-winning coach and an elite collegiate and international referee. In a 20-year run at Iolani School, Chaney guided the boys to three championships and started the girls program that he led for eight years. At Corona del Mar High School in California he piloted the girls team to 10 league titles in 10 years, adding five straight CIF titles while winning Orange County Coach of the year in his first season. In the span of three impactful decades, Chaney would send more than 60 athletes off to the world of college water polo. He'd return to Hawaii to once again coach at Iolani followed this time as an assistant coach for the University of Hawaii women, helping the team to two Big West crowns and an NCAA berth.

Wearing white, however, brought Chaney to pools around the globe. He was a referee at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in Athens and Beijing, which included whistling the men's semifinal in '04. He also officiated four FINA World Championships highlighted by a women's bronze medal match, and the 2005 men's gold-medal match in Montreal. Named USAWP Referee of the Year in 2004, Chaney whistled two FINA Cups and two World League Super Final gold medal matches. Domestically, he was among the best, officiating 20 Men's NCAA Championships and ten Women's NCAA Championships which included 15 championship games. It's no surprise Chaney's the namesake for the annual USA Water Polo Developmental Referee Award.

A member of the UC Santa Barbara and Hawaii Swimming Halls of Fame, he's remained involved in the game as an assistant coach with the Punahou School club program in which his daughter participates while also running an annual pre-season varsity girls' tournament.