SALEM, W.Va. — Salem University has announced the appointment of former Penn State Behrend standout Justin Vink as the institution’s graduate assistant water polo coach.
Vink joins Tigers after serving as a men’s and women’s assistant coach and youth level head coach for the Harvard Westlake High School and LA Premier club programs in Studio City, Calif. He was a part of the 2018 Mission League and CIF Southern Section Division 1 men’s championship team, finishing as the top program in California.
“We are excited to bring Justin on to bring knowledge and connections from many levels on the West Coast,” noted Salem head coach Rob Bullion. “His experience in our conference while at Penn State Behrend will go a long way in mentoring the team from a leadership role.”
Prior to coaching at Harvard Westlake and LA Premier, Vink served as director and head coach of women’s water polo at Westside Aquatics in Santa Monica, Calif. He oversaw the expansion of the youth and high school level women’s programs while leading the 14U girls program to a first ever Fall Coastal Zone league championship and a top division finish at the United States Water Polon (USAWP) Junior Olympics in 2018.
He earned his start in coaching at his alma mater as he assisted the Penn State Behrend women’s team before becoming the head coach for the Fairview High School women’s water polo team in Erie, Pa. He landed three All-Conference players and was voted the Western Conference Coach of the Year for the 2015 season.
He later became the head men’s and women’s swimming and water polo coach at John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, Calif.. He led the swim teams to their first ever league championship during the 2016 season and later repeated as women’s champions and secured a first ever men’s league championship in the Spring of 2017. He also secured a first ever playoff berth for the women’s water polo team for the inaugural 2016-17 season. He assumed the position of head boys’ water polo coach at Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, Calif. for the 2017 season.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Vink graduated from Penn State Behrend in 2015. During his time in Erie, Pa., Vink served as team captain for the Lions in 2014 and was a member of the swim team for two seasons.
As a senior in 2014, he led the team with 34 drawn kickouts to accompany 37 goals 17 assists and 12 steals. Historically, he stands among the program’s Top Five players in field blocks (24, second), assists (61, fourth), drawn kickouts (93, fifth) and drawn penalty shots (13, fourth) while ranking seventh in both shots (250) and goals (85).
Beyond his intercollegiate experience, Vink also competed for the Netherlands junior and senior national teams as a member of the nation’s World Championship, European Championship, FINA World League and World Cup squads under coach Robin van Galen during his time in high school and college.
Information courtesy Salem University Water Polo
