McKee to head Laguna boys’ water polo squad

Mike Sciacca

Rick McKee, the head girls’ coach and assistant boys’ varsity water

polo coach at Tustin High, has been named the new boys’ water polo

coach at Laguna Beach High, Breakers athletic director Ron Schwartz

has announced.

McKee joined the program just in time for Hell Week, which began

on Aug. 25 with two-a-day practices.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said McKee, 40. “I know

about the rich tradition associated with the Laguna Beach water polo

program and my goal is to help carry on that tradition.”

McKee played high school water polo at Buena Park and later played

at Cypress and Santa Ana colleges.

He has been a CIF Southern Section game official the past five

years.

McKee also is an assistant coach at TRAP Water Polo Academy which

is run out of Trabuco Hills High and consists of a few Laguna Beach

athletes.

“Rick McKee is very knowledgeable about water polo,” Schwartz

said. “He played at a very high level, coached and officiated. He is

a man of strong character. The panel that interviewed him was very

impressed.”

McKee said he heard of the Laguna Beach opening while in Hawaii.

“I applied when I got back, interviewed for the position on the

22nd and was told that I had the job that same afternoon,” he said.

“It happened very quickly and I’m grateful that it did.”

McKee inherits a young squad whose season begins Thursday in the

Irvine Tournament.

“There’s not a lot of experience on this team but their enthusiasm

and drive should take this team deep into CIF,” he said. “In order

for this program to continue at the level of success it is used to,

it will take a full effort from the coaches, players and parents. It

will take complete commitment and dedication.”