PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown women’s water polo head coach Jackie Puccino has announced the hiring of Anais Mathes as an assistant coach.
Mathes joins Brown having been an assistant coach for California State University-Northridge since the 2024 season. Mathes helped CSUN win at least 16 games in each of the three seasons she has been on staff with the Matadors.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Anais to our staff as an Assistant Coach for Women’s Water Polo,” said Puccino. “Anais is a phenomenal rising young coach who brings an outstanding combination of experience as a former Division I student-athlete, professional water polo player, and NCAA Division I and USA Water Polo ODP coach. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Anais through all of these avenues and along each of these stops, Anais demonstrated belief in team cultures rooted in integrity, accountability, inclusion, and shared responsibility, values that closely align with the standards and vision of our program. Throughout our conversations, it was clear that Anais has a strong commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes, not only prioritizing excellence in academics, athletics, but most importantly in personal growth. We are excited for the leadership she will bring to our student-athletes and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our program. Go Bruno!”
In addition to her time at CSUN, Mathes has served as an Olympic Development Program coach of USA Water Polo since August of 2025.
“I’m really excited and grateful to join Brown University and work with Coach Jackie,” said Mathes. “I have a lot of trust in her vision for the program and feel honored to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to working with such talented student-athletes. Go Bruno!”
Mathes joined CSUN after a stint with the Santa Cruz Water Polo Club as a youth girls coach. Previously, Mathes played professional water polo beginning in 2020 with the Lille Metropolitan Water Polo Club in Lille, France.
Mathes played collegiate water polo at Marist College from 2017-20, helping the team post three 20-win seasons. In 125 career matches, Mathes registered 186 points, 123 goals, 63 assists and 56 steals. She scored a career-high 45 goals to go with 20 assists in her junior season.
As a senior, Mathes received Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America Honorable Mention accolades along with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Preseason Co-Player of the Year recognition. She finished the shortened 2020 campaign with 22 goals.
Originally from San Diego, Calif., Mathes prepped at Torrey Pines High School where she played water polo all four years. She served as team captain in each of her last two years and would be named the team’s Most Valuable Player from 2014-16. Mathes was also a first-team All-Division and first-team all-league selection with Torrey Pines.
Release courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
