CdM hires O’Dea

Barry O’Dea, the former boys water polo coach at Brea Olinda High,

has been hired to head the program at Corona del Mar, making him the

school’s fourth coach in as many years.

O’Dea, 32, replaces 2004 CIF Southern Section Division I Coach of

the Year Sam Bailey, who left to become an assistant with the men’s

program at Stanford under former Sea Kings’ Coach John Vargas.

O’Dea led the Wildcats to four league titles in his six-year

tenure, including, most recently, the 2002 Century League banner.

“I’m sure he’ll do a nice job,” CdM Boys Athletic Director Jerry

Jelnick said. “We got good recommendations from Brea Olinda. I think

the first year is always a little tough, but we’ll see how it goes.

He’ll do a fine job.”

Jelnick said the school was looking for an on-campus coach to add

stability to the program, which has had three coaches in the past

three years. O’Dea will fill that role, Jelnick said.

“We need some stability in the water polo program,” Jelnick said.

“With an on-campus teacher [and coach], you know they’ll be with us

for at least 10 to 12 years.”

O’Dea will also help out with the swimming program in the spring,

Jelnick said.

A prestigious position in the high school water polo world, O’Dea

will be leading a program that won three straight CIF Division II

titles from 1999 to 2001 before moving to Division I in 2002.

The Sea Kings reached the CIF Division I championship game in 2002

while making it to the quarterfinals and semifinals in 2003 and last

year, respectively.

Corona del Mar went 20-9 and claimed the Pacific Coast League

title last season with an 8-6 victory over Laguna Beach.

Notable players returning for the Sea Kings are seniors-to-be Tom

Money and Jacob Murphy. Money was a second-team All-CIF selection

last year while Murphy was a third-team selection.

Lost to graduation was two-meter man Thomas Pearson, along with

goalie Gaston Sanford, both first-team All-CIF selections.