PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — La Salle University Vice President for Athletics and Recreation Brian Baptiste announced James Wolff as the new women’s water polo coach. Wolff has over 11 years of coaching experience and 14 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)/collegiate club officiating experience in the sport and recently served as the women’s assistant coach at Iona University during the 2022 season.
“James is a great addition to our La Salle family. He emerged as the ideal leader based on his passion, experience and knowledge to continue our upward momentum and propel our program to the next level,” said Baptiste. “James’ vast playing, coaching and officiating experience and his familiarity with the MAAC (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) provides a comprehensive understanding of the game. We are excited to have him as the next leader in supporting our student-athletes in their holistic development.”
“It is an honor and a priviledge to be named the head coach of La Salle women’s water polo. I want to thank the entire search committee including Brian Baptiste and Phil Snead,” said Wolff. “With my extensive club coaching experience, I hope to expand La Salle’s reach in the water polo community with the hopes of winning a MAAC Championship.”
Wolff’s coaching career bean with Greenwich Aquatics in 2010 and created an exceptional reputation for success. Starting in 2016, he made the first final at the USA Water Polo National Championship marking the first appearance in history for an East Coast program. Wolff also led his team to a silver medal at the USA Water Polo Rocktober tournament.
He made history once more in 2017 winning a bronze medal in the platinum division at the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics, once again marking a historic milestone by being the only time an East Coast-based club won a medal in the platinum/gold era. In late 2017, Wolff was awarded the Ted Newland Distinguished Coach Award for the Northeast Zone. He went on to lead his U14 team to back-to-back bronze medals at the USA Water Polo Championships Cup.
In summer of 2021, Wolff and his team won their first national championship defeating San Diego Shores in the final of the US Club Championship in San Diego. Wolff also brought home a silver medal that same summer in the most elite tournament in the United States, the Futures Water Polo Tournament.
Most recently, Wolff served as assistant coach of the Iona Gaels under the leadership of head coach Brian Kelly. Last season he helped lead utility Jordan van Reeken to All-MAAC First Team and Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches (ACWPC) All-America Team Honorable Mention honors. The 2022 season was highlighted by a five-game win streak against opponents the Virginia Military Institute, Marist College, Siena College and St. Francis Brooklyn College.
As an official, Wolff has made regular appearances at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) and MAAC Championships. He is rated as a tier-two official by the CWPA and serves USA Water Polo as the Northeast Zones Head Referee. Recently, he has been assigned to the 2018 Men’s Senior Nationals and the 2021 men’s NCAA Tournament play-in game between Princeton University and Fordham University.
In 2016, Wolff was selected by NBC Olympics to assist commentators Wolf Wigo and Julie Swail as a Production Assistant at the water polo competition.
Wolff holds a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Connecticut where he graduated in 2010. He also served as a former student-athlete at Pepperdine University.
Release courtesy La Salle University Athletics Communications
