Cuesta Athletics has added two new head coaches to their staff. Former assistants Casey Blair and Rich Firman are now leading the women's basketball and women's water polo programs, respectively. Both coaches have been part of Cuesta Athletics for over a decade and should make for a smooth transition for both programs. Blair is a former all-conference cager for the Cougars and has spent the past 13 seasons as Cuesta's Assistant Men's Basketball Coach. He is tasked with rebuilding a program that has seen its past two campaigns cut short and has only played five games since the 2018-19 campaign. The Cougars had a winning season in 2019 but are chasing their first playoff berth since 2015. Firman inherits one of only three CCCAA Water Polo teams that played a game in 2020-21, as well as a program that is also riding a string of playoff berths. Women's Water Polo is still the newest program on campus but has been the college's most successful women's team sport and boasts the college's highest winning percentage, by almost 100 points, since the turn of the century. Firman has already established himself in his new position by going 4-1 on the opening weekend, while Blair will have to wait until November 5th to get his Cougars on the floor.
CASEY BLAIR- Women's Basketball
Casey brings a wealth of experience as he revitalizes the Cuesta Women's Basketball program. Blair takes over a women's program that has played only five games over the past two seasons, but still went 3-2. The Cougars were 16-13 in their last full-season and were edged out of a playoff berth in 2019. Blair is uniquely qualified take on the rebuilding process. He has spent the past 13 seasons as the Assistant Coach of the men's team and helped lead the Cuesta men to six conference titles and nine playoff berths.
Blair began his collegiate playing career at Cuesta and was a two-time all-Conference Point Guard for the Cougars in 2007 and 2008 and still ranks in Cuesta's All Time Top 10 for career assists, steals and three-point percentage. After Cuesta, he played professionally in Belgium for one season before starting his coaching career. Blair is the third Cuesta Women's Basketball Coach. The program began under Ed Musolff (425-418) in 1980-81 and when he retired former men's assistant Ron Barba (129-123) took the reins from 2010-11 until last season.
Blair completed his bachelor's degree from Columbia College, Master's Degree in Kinesiology from University of Central Missouri, and teaching credential from Alliant University. Casey and his wife Lies live in Atascadero with their son Kian and daughter June.
RICH FIRMAN- Women's Water Polo
Rich joined the Cuesta Staff in 2008 as the Cougars' assistant swim and dive coach. After the pandemic shortened 2020-21 school year, he took over as head coach of the women's water polo program.
Rich came to Cuesta after retiring as Cal Poly's Head Swim and Dive Coach in 2006. He spent 19 years coaching the Mustang's men's and women's swimming and diving programs and initially came out of retirement in 2007 to join PUMA Aquatics Club and then added Cuesta the next year. While he was at Cal Poly, Rich coached many Big West champion swimmers and divers and was twice earned Big West Coach of the Year. Firman's Cal Poly teams broke 24 school records over his last five seasons. He has had a similar impact at Cuesta. Women's Swim and Dive has set 15 new records during his tenure, while the men have posted 25 new records. Rich's tenure has also produced 28 All Americans and 50 conference champions for the Cougars. He has continued to be busy in his retirement and remains a highly regarded and sought after technical swim coach. In addition to his work as an adjunct professor and coach at Cuesta, Firman works with the Puma Aquatic Club and previously coached water polo at Nipomo HS. He began his coaching career as the assistant aquatics coach at Diablo Valley College in 1978, before spending four years at Northgate High School and two at Campolindo High School. He is renowned as a master of stroke mechanics and for his innovative practice design.
Rich played water polo and swam at Diablo Valley College, before completing his collegiate career swimming for the University of Missouri-Columbia. He earned Bachelor's Degrees in both Kinesiology and Psychology at CSU Bakersfield, where he was serving as the Renegades assistant swim coach. He received his teaching credential from National University.
Rich resides in Arroyo Grande with his wife Lisa. They have two sons Jordan and Geoffrey.
