David Carrasco was named the sixth Head Coach in LMU Men's Water Polo history in December of 2024. The hiring comes following a decorated career as an LMU player, assistant coach, and associate head coach. The fall 2025 will be Carrasco's first as head coach
Following a standout career in the pool, All-American and former WWPA Player of the Year David Carrasco joined Head Coach John Loughran on the coaching staff as the men’s water polo assistant coach ahead of the fall 2023 season. After helping lead LMU to a share of the inaugural West Coast Conference regular season title in 2023, Carrasco was promoted to Associate Head Coach in Summer 2024.
Loughran and Carrasco led LMU to an 18-8 overall record and a 6-1 record in the conference play in the fall. The Lions finished the season tied for 14th nationally in the final Collegiate Water Polo Association national poll.
“We are very excited to have David join our coaching staff,” said Loughran. “His prior playing and coaching experience will help us in all areas of our program. David is one of the most successful athletes in our program’s history and he understands what LMU, and our water polo program, are all about. He is thoroughly committed to helping LMU Water Polo win championships. I believe, with David’s approach to coaching and player development, he will soon be one of the best young coaches in the NCAA.”
Carrasco played three seasons for the Lions between 2019 and 2022. In that time, Carrasco scored 182 goals and added 150 assists for 332 points. No other Lion has recorded 150 career assists. Carrasco ranks among the career leaders in several other statistical categories as well, including ninth in goals scored, fifth in total points, and tied for sixth in steals.
“It is a great opportunity for me to work for the sport of water polo and my alma mater,” said said Carrasco. “My goal as an assistant is to bring LMU back to the top in the country and help our guys to develop as players and individuals. It will be incredible if we can make them improve to the point where they make their national team or become professional water polo players after graduation. I am really excited to work towards that.”
Carrasco began his role in June of 2023 with the fall season his first. The 2023 will also be LMU’s first as members of the West Coast Conference, which is sponsoring men’s water polo for the first time in history.
