Men's Water Polo
Gavin Arroyo
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Gavin.Arroyo@csulb.edu
- Phone:
- 985-8279
Gavin Arroyo enters his 15th season as the head men’s water polo coach at Long Beach State. During his time at LBSU he has compiled a 201-167 record. Under his guidance, the Beach has posted a winning record in seven of the last eight seasons, and have finished ranked in the Top 10 in each of those seasons, with a pair of Top 5 finishes.
An icon of the sport, Arroyo was recognized for his efforts with his induction into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2020.
In 2021, Arroyo served as an assistant coach for the USA Men’s National Team at the 2020 Toyko Games.
Last season, the Beach went 18-13 overall led by senior Austin Stewart who scored 61 goals and freshman Rafael Real Vergara who was a first-team all-conference selection as well as earning Honorable Mention All-America. LBSU closed out the season ranked No. 7 nationally.
That followed a tremendous 2018 campaign that saw Long Beach State win the Golden Coast Conference Tournament at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. The Beach went on to host their first game of the NCAA Tournament, winning 12-5 against Pomona-Pitzer before falling in the National Quarterfinals.
Arroyo was named the Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the Beach had five All-Americans in addition to GCC Tournament MVP, goalie Marwan Darwish,
A four-time winner of conference coach of the year, Arroyo was 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.
In 2012 Arroyo led Long Beach State to a 24-8 regular season finish as well as a 4-4 finish in conference play. The historic year led LBSU to its first appearance in the MPSF Tournament since 2008 and ended with a fifth-place finish. Arroyo was also awarded with his second MPSF Coach of the Year award for his efforts.
In 2007, Arroyo was selected as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) co-Coach of the Year after leading Long Beach State to a 17-15 record. During the 2007 season the 49ers upset No. 2 Stanford (7-5) in an MPSF home match and won the Inland Empire Tournament.
In his first season in 2006, the 49ers were 11-17 overall and tied for sixth place in the MPSF, picking up two victories over rival UC Irvine.
Arroyo is a two-time member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo team (1996, 2000) and has gone on to have an extensive career working with the US Olympic Water Polo Program. Arroyo is currently serving as an assistant coach with the USA Men’s Senior National Team in preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.
In 2017, Arroyo served as the head coach of the USA Water Polo Men’s Junior National Team at the FINA Junior World Championships in Serbia, leading the Americans to an 8th place finish. The next year, Arroyo served as an assistant coach for the Men’s Senior National Team, working with head coach Dejan Udovicic.
In 2005, he served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team planning training schedules, aiding in game preparation, organizing fundraising events, and being responsible for fundamentals, tactic implementation and conditioning.
Arroyo started the Long Beach Water Polo Club catering to youth water polo players, both boys and girls, on May 1, 2010. He has also served as the head coach for the Olympic Club of San Francisco men’s team (2004-05) for two years.
A 1994 graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, Arroyo was a first-team All-American at Cal in 1993. He was 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 U.S. squad to numerous championships. The U.S. men’s team won the 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 for seven years overseas 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. Following his playing career, he worked for two seasons as an assistant coach at Cal before coming to the Beach. He also spent the past 11 years serving as the head coach of the women’s program as well at Long Beach State before turning the reins over to Shana Welch in 2020.
Arroyo is a native of Southern California, growing up in Orange and earning 1990 Swimmer of the Year and High School Player of the Year honors from the Orange County Register at Villa Park High School.
Arroyo and his wife, Erene, have two daughters, Angeliki and Mikaela.
An icon of the sport, Arroyo was recognized for his efforts with his induction into the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 2020.
In 2021, Arroyo served as an assistant coach for the USA Men’s National Team at the 2020 Toyko Games.
Last season, the Beach went 18-13 overall led by senior Austin Stewart who scored 61 goals and freshman Rafael Real Vergara who was a first-team all-conference selection as well as earning Honorable Mention All-America. LBSU closed out the season ranked No. 7 nationally.
That followed a tremendous 2018 campaign that saw Long Beach State win the Golden Coast Conference Tournament at the Ken Lindgren Aquatics Center. The Beach went on to host their first game of the NCAA Tournament, winning 12-5 against Pomona-Pitzer before falling in the National Quarterfinals.
Arroyo was named the Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the Beach had five All-Americans in addition to GCC Tournament MVP, goalie Marwan Darwish,
A four-time winner of conference coach of the year, Arroyo was 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.
In 2012 Arroyo led Long Beach State to a 24-8 regular season finish as well as a 4-4 finish in conference play. The historic year led LBSU to its first appearance in the MPSF Tournament since 2008 and ended with a fifth-place finish. Arroyo was also awarded with his second MPSF Coach of the Year award for his efforts.
In 2007, Arroyo was selected as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) co-Coach of the Year after leading Long Beach State to a 17-15 record. During the 2007 season the 49ers upset No. 2 Stanford (7-5) in an MPSF home match and won the Inland Empire Tournament.
In his first season in 2006, the 49ers were 11-17 overall and tied for sixth place in the MPSF, picking up two victories over rival UC Irvine.
Arroyo is a two-time member of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo team (1996, 2000) and has gone on to have an extensive career working with the US Olympic Water Polo Program. Arroyo is currently serving as an assistant coach with the USA Men’s Senior National Team in preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.
In 2017, Arroyo served as the head coach of the USA Water Polo Men’s Junior National Team at the FINA Junior World Championships in Serbia, leading the Americans to an 8th place finish. The next year, Arroyo served as an assistant coach for the Men’s Senior National Team, working with head coach Dejan Udovicic.
In 2005, he served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team planning training schedules, aiding in game preparation, organizing fundraising events, and being responsible for fundamentals, tactic implementation and conditioning.
Arroyo started the Long Beach Water Polo Club catering to youth water polo players, both boys and girls, on May 1, 2010. He has also served as the head coach for the Olympic Club of San Francisco men’s team (2004-05) for two years.
A 1994 graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, Arroyo was a first-team All-American at Cal in 1993. He was 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 U.S. squad to numerous championships. The U.S. men’s team won the 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 for seven years overseas 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. Following his playing career, he worked for two seasons as an assistant coach at Cal before coming to the Beach. He also spent the past 11 years serving as the head coach of the women’s program as well at Long Beach State before turning the reins over to Shana Welch in 2020.
Arroyo is a native of Southern California, growing up in Orange and earning 1990 Swimmer of the Year and High School Player of the Year honors from the Orange County Register at Villa Park High School.
Arroyo and his wife, Erene, have two daughters, Angeliki and Mikaela.
MWP vs. Pomona-Pitzer Highlights
Saturday, November 24
2018 Golden Coast Conference Champions
Sunday, November 18
LBSU Fast 5 Austin Stevenson
Wednesday, November 30
LBSU Fast 5 Jacob Fujioka
Wednesday, November 16
