PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown University’s Samuel M. Mencoff ’78 Vice President for Athletics and Recreation M. Grace Calhoun ’92, Ph.D., announced the appointment of Jackie Puccino as the institution’s new women’s water polo head coach.
“Jackie’s passion for student-athlete development and tremendous vision for the continued success of our program was impressive,” Calhoun said. “We look forward to the team’s bright future under her leadership.”
“I’m deeply grateful to Grace Calhoun, Ray Grant, and Jake Silverman for the incredible opportunity to lead the women’s water polo program,” said Puccino. “I’m honored and energized to begin this journey with such a talented roster. A special thank you to Felix Mercado for his tireless dedication and unwavering belief in this program. I’m excited to work together to continue and build upon that legacy.”
Puccino brings over a decade of coaching experience and is recognized for her leadership and commitment to student-athlete development. Most recently, Puccino served as an assistant coach for the University of Southern California (USC) women’s water polo team in 2025, as the Trojans went 29-5 overall en route to an National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship appearance.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jackie Puccino to the Brown Bears family,” said Brown Director of Water Polo Felix Mercado. “Her extensive coaching background and dedication to student-athlete success make her an excellent fit to lead our women’s water polo program.”
Before USC, Puccino spent six seasons at Harvard University, serving as a coach of both the Crimson women’s and men’s programs. Puccino joined the Crimson staff as an assistant in 2018 and was elevated to associate head coach in 2023. During her time in Cambridge, Harvard teams posted a combined eight 20-win seasons, including the Crimson women’s first-ever Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship game appearance in 2022 and a 2019 Northeast Water Polo Conference (NWPC) Championship/NCAA appearance for the Harvard men.
Puccino began her coaching career with the Palomar College women’s program, earning Pacific Coast Athletic Conference (PCAC) Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2016. She spent a year as the women’s head coach at San Diego Mesa College, winning the 2017 PCAC title and her third PCAC Coach of the Year nod.
As a player, Puccino earned All-America First Team honors at Palomar College before going on to Marist College, where she earned a degree in Psychology in 2012. Puccino also holds a master’s degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JACKIE
“Jackie is truly one of a kind, hardworking, honest, and selfless! She’s a culture builder with tremendous coaching knowledge and experience. Jackie is a winner and has won at every coaching stop in her career, and Brown is getting a gem of a coach! I wish her all the success and will be cheering for her and her team from afar.”
– Casey Moon, USC Women’s Water Polo Head Coach
“Jackie will do an amazing job leading the Brown Women’s Water Polo program. I know it has been her dream to be an Ivy League head coach, and she has worked hard for this moment. Jackie represents everything that the Ivy League stands for. I’m confident she will be incredibly successful at Brown… hopefully just not against us!”
– Ted Minnis, The Friends of Harvard Water Polo Head Coach
“Jackie Puccino is a remarkable leader and a rising star in our sport. She is everything you look for in a head coach—innovative, grounded, competitive, and ambitious. Jackie does it the right way, prioritizing the holistic well-being of the program. She’s a tireless advocate for excellence and equity and ready to make a lasting impact at Brown.”
– Cassie Curnside, Michigan Women’s Water Polo Head Coach
Information courtesy Brown University Athletics Communications
