Santa Margarita’s boys water polo program has hired Olympian Jeremy Laster as a varsity assistant coach, the Trinity League school announced.
Laster was an Orange County standout at San Clemente before becoming a NCAA MVP at Stanford and an Olympian in 1996.
Laster’s playing resume also includes helping the U.S. claim the 1997 FINA World Cup, two NCAA titles and a professional stint in greece.
Team USA and Laster finished seventh at the Atlanta Olympics but stormed to the World Cup title the following year. He retired in 1998 because of injury.
Laster serves on the Board of Directors for USA Water Polo, coaches for the O.C. club and is the father of six children.
Coach Paden Mitchell’s Santa Margarita team competes in the challenging Trinity League, home to Division 1 powerhouse Mater Dei and rising contender Orange Lutheran.
The Eagles missed the playoffs last season in Division I but could be headed to a new playoff division under the CIF-SS retooled postseason structure. Their last trip to the CIF quarterfinals was in 2004 in Division 2.
Please send water polo news to Dan Albano at dalbano@ocregister.com
