NEW LONDON, Conn. — Former Marist College athlete Katie Tijerina joins the staff of Connecticut College men’s and women’s water polo coach Matt Anderson for the start of the 2025 women’s season.
Tijerina arrives in New London after spending the past three and a half years as the assistant coach for the water polo team at Rosary Academy in Fullerton, Calif.
As the assistant at Rosary Academy, Tijerina was responsible for planning and conducting practices, drills and scrimmages. Additionally, she supported the head coach in administrative tasks such as scheduling, travel arrangements and equipment management.
“I’m excited for Katie to join the herd,” said Anderson. “Katie brings a strong history of experience, having played in the Commerce program in Los Angeles growing up and then attending Marist where she also happened to be team captain. The last few years she’s had the opportunity to coach at Rosary Academy with Gabriel Martinez, who is as good as there is at teaching the game of water polo to student athletes. What she has learned should help her transition into coaching at the collegiate level. I’m very glad she wanted to leave California to come back East.”
A native of Commerce, Calif., Tijerina competed on the water polo team at Rosary Academy. Following high school, she competed in water polo at Marist College, where she was named captain during her junior and senior years. She ranks first in program history with 207 steals and third in assists with 152, while earning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Rookie of the Year in 2016.
Following graduation, Tijerina traveled to Europe to continue her playing career, initially signing with Lille in France, before playing with N.E. Patras in Greece.
Tijerina graduated with a degree in Digital Arts in 2019 and a Master’s degree in Media Design in 2022 from Marist.
Information courtesy Connecticut College Athletics Communications
