Head Coach Steve Smith
Head Men’s Water Polo Coach Steve Smith brings a storied career to the table for the Owls. A former Owl himself, Smith played 2 years of Water Polo at Citrus where he was an All-American honoree, 1st Team All-WSC selection in 1998 and 1999, and the Citrus Male Athlete of the Year in 2000.
From there Smith went on to transfer to NCAA Division III University of La Verne, where the accolades kept on coming. Smith was a 2 time Division III All-American for the Leopards. In 2000 and 2001 he was also named to the All-SCIAC team, and in 2002 Smith was named the University of La Verne’s Male Athlete of the Year. On top of the water polo activities Smith was a well-rounded enough athlete to have played for the baseball teams at both Citrus and La Verne.
Once his playing days were over Smith began to transfer his success to the coaching realm. Smith spent 1 year with the University of La Verne as the Assistant Men’s and Women’s Coach. While there his squad took 2nd place in the SCIAC.
Smith, who is in his seventh year with Citrus, has begun a tedious rebuilding process, and the Owls have responded, winning more games each season and placing higher in the Western States Conference every year that Smith has been at Citrus.
Smith graduated from the University of La Verne with his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2002, and then proceeded to go on and obtain his masters degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2004. In his spare time, Smith recently ran the Los Angeles Marathon, finishing the race in a time of four hours and fifty-one minutes.
Assistant Coach Drew McNeil
Assistant Coach Drew McNeil begins his first season on the Citrus College Men’s Water Polo staff. Coach McNeil played with the Fighitng Owls from 2005-2006.
In 2006, McNeil earned 1st team All-Western State Conference honors and was one of just 20 athletes from across the state to be named a Pepsi Scholar Athlete honoree. McNeil was also named the Citrus College Physical Education Department Student of the Year.
A graduate of Charter Oak High School, McNeil prepped four varsity seasons for the Chargers where he was named an All-League selection twice.
After graduating from Citrus, McNeil moved on to the University of California Los Angeles, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in History in 2008.
Assistant Coach Nick Bonomo
Assistant Coach Nick Bonomo begins his first season on the Citrus College Men’s Water Polo staff. An alumnus of Citrus College, Bonomo played the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Fighting Owls.
In 2005, Bonomo was named a 1st team All-Western State Conference honoree as he helped lead the Fighting Owls to a 3rd place finish in the WSC. A graduate of Royal High School, Bonomo played two varsity seasons for the Highlanders before matriculating to Citrus.
When not on the pool deck, Bonomo works full-time as a federal contractor building custom homes and restaurants.