Gavin Arroyo is in his fifth year as assistant coach with the Men’s Senior National Team after serving as the head coach of the Men’s Junior National Team. He was also an assistant coach with the Men’s Senior National Team in 2005.
He also recently completed his 15th season as head coach for the men’s water polo team at Long Beach State—and his 9th season as the school’s head coach for the women’s water polo team.
During his time at LBSU he’s compiled a 217-179 record with the men. Under his guidance, the Beach has posted a winning record in seven of the last eight seasons. In 2019, Arroyo led the Beach to an 18-13 overall record and a 2-3 mark in the Golden Coast Conference. The Beach were ranked No. 7 in the season’s final CWPA poll. Arroyo is a three-time MPSF Coach of the Year, earning the honors in 2007, 2012, and 2014. During the 2014 season he led the Beach to a 22-7 overall record and a 7-3 conference record. Long Beach State earned a No. 4 national ranking that season—matching the team’s final ranking in 2001 as the highest in program history.
With the women, LBSU’s 2013 season went down as the best in program history under Arroyo’s leadership. Arroyo guided the Beach to a program-best 25-7 record and a third-place finish in the Big West Tournament.
A 1994 graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, Arroyo was a First Team All-American in 1993. He was also a part of three NCAA Championship squads at Berkeley (1990, 1991, 1992). Arroyo competed on the U.S. National Team for eight years (1993-2000), helping lead the squad to numerous championships. The U.S. Men’s Team won World Championships in 1994 and 1998, the 1997 FINA Cup, and the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games. He also competed on the U.S. Men’s Team at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.
Arroyo competed overseas for seven years, playing professional water polo in Greece and Spain with five different clubs (Vouliagmeni, Glyfada, CN Barcelona, Olympiakos, and CN Barceloneta). He was a member of the 1998 Greek League championship team and was runner-up in 1997 and 1998 at the European Cup.
Arroyo is a native of southern California. He grew up in Orange and attended Villa Park High School where he earned 1990 Swimmer of the Year and High School Player of the Year honors from the Orange County Register. Arroyo and his wife, Erene, have two daughters, Angeliki and Mikaela.
