University of La Verne Director of Athletics Dr. Jenna Panatier announced Robert Echeverria as the University of La Verne interim water polo head coach for the women’s 2025 spring season. Echeverria brings 20 years of coaching experience at the NCAA Division III, junior college, club, and high school levels.
“We’re excited to welcome Coach Echeverria back to La Verne. As a valuable member of a previous year’s coaching staff, we are eager to see him take the lead of our talented squad this season,” said Panatier.
Echeverria returns to La Verne after working as a graduate assistant with the Leopards from 2018 to 2020. The women’s 2019 squad advanced to the SCIAC Semifinals and were a goal away from advancing to the title game. The women’s 2020 squad finished the abbreviated season undefeated against NCAA Division III squads and earned wins over Division I and Division II opponents Villanova, St. Francis Brooklyn, and Fresno Pacific. The La Verne men’s and women’s squads combined for seven All-American accolades while Echeverria was on the staff.
Most recently Echeverria served on the Whittier College men’s water polo staff where he helped guide the Poets to an 18-10 record, three All-SCIAC accolades, and the SCIAC Newcomer of the Year.
“I’m very happy to be back at La Verne. I want to thank Dr. Panatier for the opportunity to lead this program. This school means a lot to me and I’m ready to get to work,” said Echeverria.
He also served as the head coach at Damien High School and St. Lucy’s Priory High School. At Damien, he led the Spartans to the CIF Southern Section Division 3 Championship and the Baseline League title and was named the CIF-SS Division 3 Coach of the Year.
Echeverria began his collegiate coaching career at Los Angeles Valley College, where he led the women’s water polo program from 2014 to 2019. Under his tenure, the Monarchs won the 2013 Western States Conference title and finished as runners-up in 2014 and 2015.
Echeverria has also had head coaching stints at Westridge School and South Pasadena High School. He guided Westridge to back-to-back Prep League Championships in 2016 and 2017. At South Pasadena, he led the Tigers girls’ water polo team to five straight Rio Hondo League Championships (2010-14) and led the boys' squad to the 2009 league title. He was named the San Gabriel Valley Coach of the Year in 2016, 2011, 2010, and 2009.
At the club level, Echeverria worked as the head coach of the 18U boys and girls and the 16U girls teams at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center and founded the South Pasadena Water Polo Club. Under his direction, the Rose Bowl Club captured the 2014 18U Girls Platinum Division Junior Olympics National Championship, and the 2011 18U Boys and 16U Girls won Gold.
