NEWPORT BEACH Former U.S. Olympic men’s assistant coach Marco Palazzo was introduced Monday night as Newport Harbor’s interim boys water polo coach while the school’s assistant girls water polo coach, Brian Melstrom, was named the successor to girls coach Bill Barnett, who will retire after the upcoming season.
The announcement from Newport Harbor principal Sean Boulton kicked off a town hall discussion with Boulton and the school’s aquatics community. The school’s boys swim coach position is open, Boulton said.
Palazzo, a walk-on, replaces Robert Lynn, also a former U.S. Olympic assistant, who was fired by the school’s feeder club and then resigned at Newport Harbor. Club board member John Dobrott said Monday night that Lynn was “terminated” by the club’s board in a “personnel issue” but he declined to elaborate.
Lynn has declined to discuss the coaching saga and didn’t respond to a text message Monday night.
Boulton said Palazzo will be evaluated during the season but the permanent position will be opened to candidates. But for now, Boulton views Palazzo as the best fit because of his familiarity with the program. Palazzo coaches with the feeder club and has guided lower-level teams at the high school.
“There’s been a lot of positive feedback about him from students,” Boulton said of Palazzo. “He knows that he’s not automatically going to be the permanent coach. (The position) will be flown … and there will be candidates. We’ll see who applies and go from there.”
Both announcements from Boulton were greeted by applause. The crowd also clapped for Barnett, who attended the meeting with the aid of a walker. The veteran coach, who is set to enter his 48th season at the school, had hip replacement surgery just four days ago.
“That really speaks to the can-do attitude of this school,” Boulton said of Barnett.
Melstrom also teaches math at Newport Harbor and has been a steady assistant coach to Barnett. He also coaches the girls swim team.
Newport Harbor grad and former Tustin coach Dean Crow was introduced as the mew director of Newport Beach Water Polo Club. Pavle Filipovic, Lynn’s chief assistant, will serve as an assistant under Palazzo.
