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Laguna Beach water polo coach Ethan Damato, who helped build a powerhouse girls program and led the schoool’s boys team to three CIF-SS titles, has resigned, Breakers athletic director Denise Selbe confirmed Friday.
Damato wasn’t available Friday to discuss the departure from his alma mater, but USA Water Polo spokesperson Greg Mescall confirmed that Damato will be joining the organization as head coach of the girls Olympic Development Program Academy, a newly-created position.
In early March, Damato served as the head coach for the U.S. women’s team that took bronze at the FINA Intercontinental Cup in Peru. He also is the top girls coach with the SET club.
As a high school coach, Damato led Laguna Beach to nine section water polo titles — three with the boys and six with the girls. He has been selected Orange County coach of the year in boys and girls water polo.
“Ethan meant so much to the Laguna Beach community,” said two-time Olympic gold medalist Aria Fischer, who along with her sister Makenzie starred under Damato at Laguna Beach.
“He really invested in the girls and boys who played water polo, helping them hone their skills and improve as players while also teaching them larger life lessons and bettering them as human beings.”
Damato led Laguna Beach boys to a trio of section titles in Division 3 (2010-11, 2014) and finished with a overall record of 204-101 in 11 seasons.
He guided Laguna Beach girls to five Division 1 crowns and one Division 2 championship.
All 11 seniors on Laguna Beach’s girls team this past season committed to college programs.
“The amount of Laguna Beach High alumna playing at top-four women’s water polo collegiate programs is a testament to how great of a coach Ethan is,” said Aria Fischer, now a standout with Makenzie at Stanford.
Laguna Beach’s girls also won two CIF Southern California Regional titles under Damato and 18 in-season tournaments, including the past eight Holiday Cup titles.
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The Breakers’ girls won 87 percent of their matches under Damato, who finished with a 361-56 record and 13 league titles in his 14 seasons.
Damato also helped develop Olympian Annika Dries, an Olympic gold medalist in 2012 who also starred at Stanford.
Selbe said Damato shared his resignation with the Laguna Beach players and parents on Thursday.