Erika Vargas has enjoyed immense success as the head coach of the women's water polo team at West Valley College. Since taking over in 2017, Vargas has led the Vikings to six consecutive undefeated Coast Conference crowns, four NorCal titles, three 3rd-place state finishes, and a state championship in 2021. So how does a coach instill immediate success?

"I feel that there are three benchmarks to success - conference, regional, and state titles. When I first got to West Valley, I inherited the athletes on the roster and all I did was teach them fundamentals. I had moved to a new area so I really put my heart and soul into this program and wanted to make them the best. I would be lying if I said I knew we'd be winners on Day 1," Vargas said. "When it came to regionals, having the athletes buy in to the program [was important]. In 2019, we won our first regional title and haven't lost one since then. As far as the state title, I knew this program was going to win state one day but I just didn't know when it was going to be. We ended up winning in four years, which is wild, but that success actually came from COVID. When COVID hit and we had to stay at home, I poured my time and energy into recruiting. That's when I was able to recruit a couple of really good athletes and, once again, they bought into the program. It was an amazing run, we were 32-2 when we won, and I attribute all of it to the foundation of focusing on fundamentals and dedication."

For such an accomplished coach, Vargas did not always see coaching in her future. While playing at Mt. San Antonio College, her best experience was the relationships and the bonds she formed - something that is evident in the fact that she is still best friends with three former teammates and her head coach. But coaching after her playing days? That seemed far fetched. After graduating with a degree in criminology, Vargas went into the criminal justice field and just didn't like it.

"I had no desire to ever coach water polo. When I transferred to University of La Verne and played my two years, I played water polo because I loved the community and the fact that it kept me on track for school," Vargas explained. "My initial plan wasn't working, so one day I went back to the pool at La Verne [to train with the team] and was just trying to figure out life when a grad position came up. Coach asked if I'd be interested and I said 'yeah, that'd be awesome' but I didn't have a good time that first year. I thought 'I don't want to coach, this isn't for me' and then Willo Rodriguez took over the program at La Verne and told me he'd love if I would continue being a grad assistant. [That year], I ended up having the best experience of my life. I met Mason Cox and I was coaching with Willo and it was so much fun. So when Willo took the job here at West Valley College [in 2016], I took over the women's team at La Verne and that's when I knew I wanted to coach for the rest of my life. When you do what you love, you actually never work a day in your life."

All of Vargas' success in water polo can be traced back to her father, Albert, who played water polo as a young man at La Puente High School. But during his senior year, he didn't get to play because he had to work to help support his family as one of nine children.

"When I was playing and having success in the game, he would remind me that I had the opportunity to play sports because that was something he didn't always have. I didn't even know I was going to play at Mt. San Antonio College - my dad actually signed me up for the team while I was in class. As I continued coaching, he always preached dedication and passion. I lost him in 2017, right around when I moved to West Valley, but I still remember all his words of advice. I literally wouldn't be where I am today without him being stubborn and making me join the team."

Thankfully for Vargas, Albert was stubborn, because where she is today is pretty special. At the 2021 state championship, she became the first female head coach to win a California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) water polo state title. But it wasn't just her father that affected her journey. There were some pretty influential women along the way, starting with her head coach at Mt. San Antonio College.

"My biggest female role model is Jodi Lepp. She is still my life mentor to this day. Two hours before we played the state championship game, I called her [to ask for advice] and she said 'Breathe. You've done this in different aspects of your life, this is just water polo now. You're ready for this, your team is ready for this. There's nothing more you can teach them. Let them play and be there just to guide them through, but they already know what to do.' She's the one that didn't let me quit my sophomore year so I owe so much to her. She was with me then and has been with me ever since."

Vargas' journey through water polo has led her to West Valley College, where she is now not only head coach of the women's water polo team but also the Interim Dean of Health and Human Development.

"In the summer and spring, we have a skills and techniques course that is open to anyone on campus. Another class we've gotten water polo athletes from is our general swim class. I used to teach it, Willo teaches it now, but we'll see an athlete swimming and approach them to see if they've ever thought about trying water polo. I have athletes on the team that had never played and we were able to expose them to the sport."

Community college is a great way to grow the game. These courses have turned novices into collegiate athletes and huge water polo fans. Vargas' athletes that were first introduced to the game at West Valley College now go watch Stanford games together and tell their families about water polo.

When asked about other ways to facilitate the growth of water polo, Vargas wanted to shine a spotlight on other female coaches and athletes.

"I find that although it's amazing to say I was the first female coach to win a CCCAA water polo state championship and break the glass ceiling, it's also very saddening that it's taken this long. Getting more exposure for female coaches and athletes to give them that confidence to know that they can coach and play is crucial. It's still a very male dominated world out there. When I go to the state championship, I'm the only female coach there. Although it's the women's tournament, all the other coaches are male. It can be very intimidating for a young woman to stand on that deck with all males. So really highlighting the amazing female coaches and athletes we have out there can go a long way."