Meet the Coaches
Athletes don't remember drills.
They remember coaches.
Our staff comes from different competitive backgrounds and brings different strengths to the deck. What they share is a standard, and a habit of investing in athletes past the end of any one season.
How we coach
Coaching here isn't transactional.
It's relational.
Every Meridian coach works from the same framework: clear feedback, expectations stated out loud, and a willingness to have the harder conversation when it's the useful one. Athletes are told the truth about where they are, and given a specific path to somewhere better.
Our staff leads by example — disciplined in preparation, collaborative with each other, and consistent in what they model on deck. Great athletes get built through trust and accountability, which are slower to establish than a drill and worth considerably more.
The staff
The people
on the deck.
John Roemer
Head Coach · Club Director
Sets the tone.
Decades of developing athletes across club, high school, and collegiate water polo. John coaches with a standard rooted in discipline, accountability, and preparation that leaves nothing to the day itself.
- Seven-time Coach of the Year
- UC Berkeley letterman, swimming & water polo
- Club, high school & collegiate championships
Phinean Gardner
Head Coach · President
Develops the athlete.
A four-year letterman and First Team All-American whose coaching runs on mentorship, accountability, and a long view of development — measured by who an athlete becomes, not by the next tournament.
- Founder, Meridian Water Polo Club
- Four-year letterman, UC Berkeley
- U.S. Youth, Junior & Senior National Teams
Shelby Sailing
Associate Coach · Goalkeepers
Owns the cage.
A former collegiate goalkeeper who develops the position beyond shot-stopping — read-and-react instincts, communication habits, and the composure that separates prepared keepers from reactive ones.
- UC Santa Barbara goalkeeper
- USA Olympic Development Program instructor
- Positional and shot-stopping systems
What drives the work
The staff is the standard.
The philosophy is how it's taught.
Different backgrounds, one framework — technical precision, competitive mindset, and genuine investment in each athlete's growth.
Coaching at Meridian
- 01 Coaching Overview
- 02 Meet the Coaches You are here
- 03 Coaching Philosophy Next
- 04 Join Our Staff