LMU's men's water polo team is riding a tide of accomplishments this season: Coach John Loughran notched his 400^th win early in the season, and Sunday the No. 12 team earned a share of the inaugural WCC Championship after defeating Pacific, 21-13. LMU will play in the opening game of the WCC Championships on Friday, Nov. 17, as the two-seed and face seventh-seeded Air Force in Malibu.

Adding to the excitement around the pool, LMU has added lights that allow nighttime games and more opportunities for fans to catch the high-level action. 

Loughran's 400th career men's water polo win at LMU on Oct. 7 after going 3-0 in the Lancer Joust. Loughran, who started coaching the men's water polo program at LMU in 1997, has also won 256 games as the head coach of the LMU women's program, bringing his total games won with the Lions to 662 at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season.

Loughran, in his 27^th season as head of the men's program at LMU, has coached his team to 17 wins in 24 games this season including eight ranked-opponent victories. Loughran is the first coach in school history to win four consecutive conference championships, which he accomplished from 2007-10. Between 2001 and 2010, Loughran won eight WWPA championships over a 10-year span. Adding to his impressive resume, Loughran has won nine WWPA Coach of the Year honors, four in women's water polo (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) and five in men's water polo (2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010). 

Loughran has coached 21 players to 40 All-America honors so far. His players have won 10 WWPA Player of the Year honors from the men's team, including Andy Stevens in 2008 and 2009, Ikaika Aki in 2010 and Edgaras Asajavicius in 2011. Most recently, Blazo Mitrovic was awarded WWPA Player of the Year in 2019 and David Carrasco won the award last season in 2022. On the women's side, he coached players to 20 All-American honors and seven WWPA Player of the Year winners.

2023 opens a new chapter in the program's history as LMU is now a member of the West Coast Conference. Recently, LMU has elevated the pool to allow night games. This is great news because now water polo fans have even more opportunities to watch the team at the University Pool. Having a pool with lights allows LMU to play night games, creating a great home atmosphere. With night games, students are finished with classes and able to attend, families can watch with their children, and the atmosphere grows in support of the Lions. The players have felt that night games are special because of the increased crowds and the energy around the pool. The lights, combined with televised games on ESPN+ this year, and LMU currently being ranked in the top-15 in the country, have made it a rewarding experience for the players.

Water polo, a high-scoring, fast-paced and often intense game, making it a great spectator sport and having games at times that can bring in more people has been received positively.
 
When Loughran won his 400^th LMU men's game, he had no idea what number it was. Still, he found it very exciting and he is happy that this has been happening for 27 years. He said he really enjoys coaching the team at LMU and would like many more wins. 

Loughran believes the pool lights have added a great game and fan experience, and he thinks his players really like to play at night because it brings more fans and more excitement. The lights have also enhanced their practice times. 

The WCC Championships will be played at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool on the campus of Pepperdine University. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.