John Tanner has risen to become one of the most prolific women's water polo coaches in the history of the college game—but it all started in the pool. Tanner was a standout swimmer and water polo player in high school and went on to help the Stanford men's water polo team to three NCAA titles while earning All-American honors his senior year. Then amid his college success, his coaching career began, first at Menlo-Atherton High School and then the Menlo School before becoming an assistant coach at Stanford. From there it was off to the University of the Pacific where he started as the head coach for men's water polo team before adding head coach for men's swimming and director of aquatics to his responsibilities. In the late 80s he began working with the USA Water Polo National Teams, first as a scout and eventually as an assistant coach with the U.S. Men's National Team, highlighted by Gold medals at the 1991 and 1997 FINA Cup plus appearances at the 1992 and 2000 Olympic Games. While his water polo coaching career accelerated, his swimming guidance reached new heights as Tanner coached Brad Schumacher to two Olympic Golds at the 1996 Atlanta Games. In the late 90s Tanner took over the women's water polo program at Stanford and immediately delivered the most successful season in school history to that point. Bigger success followed with the program's first NCAA title in 2002 anchored by its first Cutino Award winner in Brenda Villa. With all of that success, the current decade has seen a new level of excellence from the Stanford women as Tanner & Co. have claimed five NCAA crowns in the last eight years—all while sending multiple athletes to the Olympic Games. Away from the college game, Tanner has stayed involved in the sport through the Stanford Water Polo Club and as a host for various age group and national team competitions.