Alex Rodriguez is in his 21st year as head coach of both the Pomona-Pitzer men’s and women’s water polo programs, having taken the helm in 2005. Under his leadership, the Sagehens have become a dominant force in Division III water polo, winning a combined 23 SCIAC titles, 4 USAWP Division III championships and making multiple NCAA Championship appearances.
Rodriguez took sabbaticals in 2015–16 and 2021 to serve as the assistant coach of the USA Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team (Brazil and Tokyo). He has also been head coach of the U.S. Men’s Junior and Youth National Teams. His most recent sabbatical was in Barcelona, Spain, where he studied top professional clubs like Barceloneta and Sabadell, and observed elite youth development at academies such as BIWPA.
At Pomona-Pitzer, Rodriguez has guided the men’s program to:
- 10 SCIAC Regular Season Titles (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012*, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024*)
- 4 SCIAC Tournament Championships (2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)
- 1 USAWP Division III Championship (2021)
With the women’s program, his teams have earned:
- 13 SCIAC Regular Season Titles (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015*, 2017, 2018, 2019*, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- 5 SCIAC Tournament Championships (2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- 3 USAWP Division III Championships (2022, 2023, 2025)
Rodriguez has been honored with the ACWPC Division III National Coach of the Year award six times (Men: 2016, 2018, 2021; Women: 2017, 2018, 2022) and named SCIAC Coach of the Year seven times (Men: 2016, 2017, 2021, 2024; Women: 2018, 2022, 2025).
The Pomona-Pitzer women’s program has qualified for the NCAA Championships seven times under Rodriguez, earning three NCAA victories, including a dramatic 13–12 comeback win over Iona in 2013 after trailing by four goals with under five minutes to play.
Before Pomona-Pitzer, Rodriguez served as Assistant Coach at Pepperdine University from 2002–06. A former All-American, he was a key member of Pepperdine’s 1997 NCAA Championship team. He also co-owned and coached the Pepperdine Water Polo Club, leading the 18U boys to a Junior Olympic title in 2005, and was head coach of the Coastal California Premier League Team, composed of collegiate athletes from UCLA, Pepperdine, LMU and UC Santa Barbara.
Earlier in his career, Rodriguez was the head boys’ coach at Bonita High School, leading the team to a CIF Southern Section Championship in 2001, and earning CIF and Los Angeles Times Inland Valley Coach of the Year honors. He also led the Bonita girls’ team for five seasons and was named CIF and Daily Bulletin Coach of the Year in 2003.
Rodriguez earned his B.A. in History from Pepperdine University and an M.A. in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University. Outside of water polo, Rodriguez is married to Kristin and is the proud father of three children: Austin, Addison and Charlotte.
