Coaches

Club Director and Head Coach: Jason Gall

Jason Gall came to Bakersfield in August of 2007 to become head coach of the CSU Bakersfield Women's Water Polo Team and in addition, to bring age group water polo to the Bakersfield community. The CSUB women’s team is coming off back to back 3^rd place finishes in the Western Water Polo Association conference. The highest finish ever by a CSUB team. In just his 2nd year at CSUB, he was named the WWPA Collegiate Coach of the year. Additional collegiate highlights include leading Pomona-Pitzer to the DIII Collegiate National Championship and being named DIII Collegiate coach of year in 2003.

Gall has a great deal of club experience having coached in over 10 National Junior Olympic tournaments and leading teams to both silver and bronze medals at JO’s. In 2003 Gall was named Southern Pacific developmental Coach of the Year for his work with youth athletes in Southern California.

The Bakersfield Water Polo Club was started in October of 2007 with a group of about 20 kids. Summer 2011 marked the 4th year in a row BWPC competed in the National Junior Olympics. As of Summer 2011, we had over 100 active members participating as part of the Bakersfield water polo club.

Jason married his wife Morgan in June of 2006 and they became parents to their son Charlie in September 2009.

Assistant Head Coach Amanda Stepp

  Stepp comes to Bakersfield from Orange County, Calif. where she has been a member of the SET water polo club coaching staff since September 2009. Stepp graduated from El Modena HS in Orange, and went on to play two years at Arizona State University where she made the MPSF All-Freshman Team during her first season of competition. At El Modena HS she was lettered four times in both water polo and swimming and was the MVP of the water polo team twice.   Stepp began playing with the SET water polo club in 2005 and has participated in multiple Junior Olympic tournaments. She was a first team All tournament selection in 2008 when she won the Gold medal at the 20 and Under National Championships with SET water polo club. Stepp also lived in New Zeland from May to July 2007, and played on a local club team. 

In announcing Stepp's new position, the Club commented “Amanda comes to us from one of the top water polo clubs in the country. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her. She is able to coach all levels, both genders, and all positions. Amanda will be working with Coach Jason and can be expected to be seen at all practices with all age groups. She has a great ability to teach the game and has strong communication skills with her athletes. I am excited to be able to bring someone on staff with her enthusiasm and eagerness to see our club continue to grow and evolve. Amanda will be here on Jan. 2 when we resume our winter session training."

Coach Sasha Poljak - Primarily 12U and 10U age groups

Sasha Poljak began coaching with the Bakersfield Water Polo Club in September of 2011. A native of Zagreb, Croatia, Poljak was part of three World Championships for Yugoslavia before moving to the U.S. to attend Pepperdine. in 1985. Poljak is one of just two players to score more than 300 career goals for Pepperdine, as his total of 320 trails only Terry Schroeder's 392. While playing for the Waves, Poljak was a three–time first–team All-American and was twice the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation MVP. He helped Pepperdine to three NCAA Finals appearances where they placed fourth twice and fifth once.

Following Pepperdine, Poljak began a career in the business world, where he has worked in industries such as health care, pharmaceutical and computer software..

Prior to joining the Bakersfield Water Polo Club, Sasha spent some time on staff at the European Water Polo Academy in Orange County. He was also the head women's water polo coach at CSU Bakersfield, from 2005-2007. Under his guidance, the Roadrunners posted a record of 59-50 and improved their win total each year. The squad also improved its position in the Western Water Polo Association standings by one spot each season.

“We are extremely excited to have someone with the background and experience of Sasha on staff with us. Sasha has been working primarily with the 10U’s and 12U’s and has already made his impact felt with a strong performance at the 12U Coastal CA Tournament. His passion for coaching and teaching the game of water polo is evident when he is on the pool deck. We are fortunate to have him out here working with our kids.”- Club Director, Jason Gall

Poljak lives here in Bakersfield, with his wife Sarah and their daughters, Ella and Tea.

Coach Greg Aakhus - High School group and Master's team

Greg has been a member of the BWPC Coaching staff since Fall 2009. He played water polo at LA Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA before transferring to Southern Oregon State University where he played club water polo for 2 years. He also swam at Southern Oregon and was part of the 400 Free relay which won NAIA nationals in 1972.

Since College Greg has played in various Master's tourneys including Master's Nationals with the Bakersfield Water Polo Club in 2009, and in 1998 Greg played for a Portland water polo club which earned a bronze medal in the Nike World Championships. Greg has been swimming masters on and off since college. His last competition was the US master LC nationals at Mt. Hood, Oregon in 2008. Greg placed 7th in the 100 and 200 Free and 8th in the 400 free in his age group.

Greg also coached the Garces Memorial High School boys team as the Assistant coach in 2009 and the Head Varsity coach in 2010, leading the Rams to their 1st CIF Valley Championship in just their 2nd season of competition. He is continually evolving as a coach as he is always looking for different ways to get the most out of the athletes. In welcoming Aakhus to BWPC, Head Coach Jason Gall stated, “Greg has a solid understanding of the game and brings good organizational skills, the ability to condition his teams, and the ability to create game-like drills that help to develop the individual athletes and the team as a whole. He is a great addition to the Club’s coaching staff.”

Coach Scott Begin - Youth Developmental coach and 14U group

Scott Begin joins the Bakersfield Water Polo Club Desert Sharks coaching staff this year. Scott began his career at La Salle High School in Pasadena where he was captain of the water polo and swim teams, and was recently inducted into the La Salle Athletic Hall of Fame. He specialized in distance freestyle as well as the 400 I.M. After graduation, Begin went to Pasadena City College and swam on state championship teams coached by Ron Ballatore. In 1978, he traveled to UC Davis where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology and was a member of the Aggie varsity water polo and swim teams.

Scott continued swimming and playing water polo with Master’s clubs around Southern California where he received some notable awards. In 1996, he was awarded All-American from the United States Masters Swimming organization for recording the fastest time in one or more events, and also in 1997 for placing first in one or more Long Distance National Championships. Scott brings his knowledge of swimming and water polo fundamentals and conditioning to the team. He is excited to work alongside head coach, Jason Gall, and believes strongly in dedication and hard work.

Begin married his wife, Susan – a native of Bakersfield -- in 1997. They have two boys, Lee (12) and Rory (8), who play for the Bakersfield Water Polo Club. Scott continues to swim and can be found in the pool most mornings training with the Gold Wave Masters Team.

“Scott has an undeniable enthusiasm for aquatics and teaching both water polo and swimming. Scott has been working with our kids primarily on swim techniques and basic water polo skills but will be expanding his role to work with our 14Us as well as the 10Us and 12Us. Scott runs our Friday night conditioning and fundamentals workouts and we have seen tremendous improvements in the kids that have been taking advantage of those practices.”