Aquatics Coach John Marsh Honored as Cuesta College's Coach of the Year
Men's Water Polo Coach John Marsh has been recognized as the 2019-20 Cuesta College Coach of the Year. This year marks the third time Coach Marsh has been honored as Cuesta College Coach of the Year, however it is also the first time he has won for water polo. Marsh, a three-sport coach for Cuesta, also won the award for men's swim and dive in both 2013 and 2018 and is now tied with Wrestling Coach Joe Dansby for the most overall wins since the award began in 2009. This past November, Coach Marsh was also named the 2019 CCCAA State Coach of the Year, as well as the 2019 Western State Conference Coach of the Year. This is the sixth time the Western State Conference has recognized Coach Marsh for water polo and the eleventh time overall, including three times for women's swim and dive and twice for men's swim and dive.
This season, Marsh led his poloist to the 2019 Western State Conference title and into CCCAA Regional Men's Water Polo Playoffs for the program's 41st consecutive appearance. In the tank, 2019 Western State Conference Player of the Year Jack Felsted anchored a line-up that included three other All Americans and a total of ten all-WSC selections. The Cougars' quest for a CCCAA State Championship ended in the an overtime loss at the 2019 CCCAA Regional Semi-Finals, however the Cougars bounced back the next day to claim the 3rd place game and end the season on high note. Marsh led his Cougars to a 26-9 overall record, while also leading Cuesta to its 28th Western State Conference title over the past 41 seasons. In 2004, Marsh took over a Cuesta program that had never endured a losing season nor missed the playoffs and he has continued the Cougars' tradition of excellence, which he helped create as a Cuesta player in 1980 and 1981.
This award recognizes the highest level of coaching achieved at Cuesta College during a year of competition. It was first officially presented in 2009. The award is based on a mathematical formula that weighs a coach's individual performance as well as the on-field success of his/her team.
Cuesta Coaches Award
Cuesta College Coach of the Year (est. 2009)
2008-09 Mike Napoli, Women's Tennis
2009-10 Rusty Blair, Men's Basketball
2010-11 Joe Dansby, Wrestling
2011-12 Brian Locher, Women's Cross Country
2012-13 John Marsh, Men's Swim & Dive
2013-14 Joe Dansby, Wrestling
2014-15 Joe Dansby, Wrestling
2015-16 Bob Miller, Baseball
2016-17 Brian Locher, Men's Cross Country
2017-18 John Marsh, Men's Swim & Dive
2018-19 Rusty Blair, Men's Basketball
2019-20 John Marsh, Men's Water Polo
