Moraga, CA — September 10, 2025 — Saint Mary's College of California today announced the launch of a new Division I Aquatics program, adding Men's and Women's Swimming and Men's and Women's Water Polo to its roster of NCAA sports. The initiative represents a significant expansion of athletic and co-curricular opportunities for students, reinforcing the College's mission to put students at the center of all it does.
The new program will create opportunities for approximately 80 student-athletes at its launch, with growth projected to expand to 100. Program development is already underway—including the hiring of coaches, identifying training facilities, and recruiting student-athletes—with intercollegiate competition set to begin in the 2026–27 academic year. The addition comes at a time when Saint Mary's is also bolstering opportunities in its Spirit Team, Dance and Cheer Teams, and SMC Pep Band programs, which together are expected to grow from 30 to as many as 60 participants.
"While many NCAA institutions across the country are scaling back athletics, Saint Mary's is making a bold commitment to expand opportunities for students," said Saint Mary's President Roger Thompson, whose op-ed on the topic was published in the San Francisco Chronicle in March. "Our new Aquatics program builds on the Bay Area's rich tradition in swimming and water polo, and affirms our belief that athletics are a vital part of the student experience."
Saint Mary's Aquatics teams will compete at the highest levels of collegiate athletics through established national conferences.
In Swimming, the Gaels will join the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), a conference that includes several strong Division I programs across the West. Women's Water Polo will compete in the Golden Coast Conference, facing programs such as those at Loyola Marymount, Fresno State, and others. Men's Water Polo will compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC), aligning with Saint Mary's longstanding conference home.
"We are happy to welcome Saint Mary's College to the MPSF as the Gaels launch their men's and women's swimming programs," said MPSF Commissioner Foti Mellis. "Starting new programs is a significant commitment, and we congratulate Saint Mary's on taking this important step for its student-athletes. We look forward to seeing the Gaels compete in the MPSF and to supporting the growth of collegiate swimming."
"We are very excited about the addition of Saint Mary's College to the Golden Coast Conference in 2026-27," said Dan Smith, GCC Commissioner. "Anytime an institution decides to sponsor the sport for the first time, it's great for water polo. This will be great for Saint Mary's, and it's great for our conference."
Investing in a New Era
To launch the program, Saint Mary's has established a partnership with nearby Campolindo High School, which will provide use of its Olympic-size swimming pool and Soda Aquatics Center. Looking ahead, the College will be developing a state-of-the-art aquatics facility of its own in the coming years, with vital support anticipated from donors, alumni, aquatics enthusiasts, and friends of Saint Mary's.
To begin shaping this vision, President Thompson is forming the Saint Mary's Aquatics Leadership Council, which will bring together external supporters, aquatics leaders, and Olympic athletes to help guide the planning process.
"Our vision for aquatics at Saint Mary's will only be realized through the passion and generosity of those who care deeply about this sport," says President Thompson. "This is a unique moment to make a meaningful impact—not just for today's student-athletes, but for the countless Gaels and community members who will benefit from a dedicated aquatics home for decades to come. Together, we can build something enduring, something that reflects the values of our College and the deep tradition of excellence in aquatics across California."
A Regional Hub, with National Support
California has long been a center of excellence in aquatics, with world-class high school programs and a deep culture of swimming and water polo. By launching Aquatics in Moraga—in the heart of the Bay Area's swimming culture—Saint Mary's is tapping into one of the nation's strongest talent pipelines while also aligning with a community that lives and breathes the sport. The College has already secured a partnership with nearby Campolindo High School, whose Olympic-size pool and Soda Aquatics Center will provide training and competition space, complemented by the College's own Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, a daily home base for student-athletes and coaches.
The launch of Aquatics at Saint Mary's has already drawn enthusiastic support from leaders across the national aquatics community, who see the College's investment as a meaningful contribution to the growth of swimming and water polo in California and beyond.
"We are incredibly excited about the investment Saint Mary's is making in both swimming and water polo," said Joel Shinofield, Managing Director, Sport Development at USA Swimming. "Not only are they investing in opportunities for students, but they're committed to building successful D-I programs where those student-athletes will thrive. California and the East Bay have an incredibly rich history in swimming and are home to some of our most successful clubs. Coaches are thrilled about the possibilities for the swimmers they coach to experience athletic and academic success at a college that changes lives."
Maggie Steffens, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in women's water polo (2012, 2016, and 2020) and co-founder of 6-8 Sports, Inc., calls Saint Mary's and water polo a "natural fit." "As someone who grew up chasing the Olympic dream in the East Bay, it's inspiring to see Saint Mary's College launch men's and women's D-1 water polo programs, amplifying the exposure and opportunity for future generations to pursue their dreams," Steffens said. "Both Saint Mary's and water polo share similar values—hard work, family, community, and the pursuit of excellence. The local community has always supported aquatic sports, and I know this will only bring greater pride to the East Bay and Northern California."
"Saint Mary's decision to add men's and women's water polo is a tremendous win for our sport," said Jamie Davis, CEO of USA Water Polo. "The Bay Area is one of the great centers of water polo in the United States, and by investing in these programs, Saint Mary's is helping to grow opportunities for student-athletes while deepening the sport's roots in a region that already lives and breathes aquatics."
That enthusiasm is shared by others in the swimming community. "The CSCAA congratulates Saint Mary's College on the exciting decision to establish both men's and women's swimming programs," said Samantha Barany, Executive Director of the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America. "This strategic move not only complements the campus and the mission of the school, but also builds on its location within a thriving hub of swimming excellence. We look forward to partnering with President Thompson and his team to launch these programs in a meaningful and sustainable way."
The College's first priority will be to hire head coaches for Men's and Women's Swimming and Water Polo, with position postings going live September 15 and appointments anticipated by mid-October. "We are committed to hiring coaches who not only bring a track record of competitive success, but who also embody the values that make Saint Mary's unique," said Mike Matoso, SMC's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "Their leadership will be critical as we build programs that reflect excellence in the pool and the classroom, and that provide a transformative experience for our student-athletes."
With this foundation of regional strength and national endorsement, Aquatics will join perennial national contenders like Gaels Basketball in raising Saint Mary's profile on the Division I stage.
Creating Academic Opportunities Focused on Health Sciences
In addition to these new opportunities in Athletics, Saint Mary's continues to broaden pathways for students through new academic offerings.
This fall, the College launched a fully accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing, pairing rigorous clinical training with a holistic Lasallian liberal arts foundation. Along with that, a new Bachelor of Science in Public Health major has debuted, designed both to stand on its own and to offer a seamless transition into the Nursing program for those interested in healthcare leadership, policy, and community well-being. These initiatives underscore Saint Mary's commitment to nurturing compassionate professionals and addressing critical needs in California's healthcare landscape.
About Saint Mary's College of California
At Saint Mary's College of California, we inspire minds, engage with the world, and create opportunities for students to find their lives transformed. With small class sizes and professors who know you by name, the Saint Mary's experience empowers students to thrive—whether you're an undergraduate or a professional looking for the next step in your career.
Founded in 1863, the University is proud of our Lasallian heritage and how it fuels teaching and learning in an inclusive and wonderfully diverse community. Nearly 2,800 Gaels study on our Bay Area campus nestled in the rolling hills of Moraga, just 23 miles east of San Francisco. US News and World Report puts SMC among the top five regional universities in the West. You'll also find Saint Mary's highlighted in the guide Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges—the only Catholic college and the first university in California to make the list.
