Loyola Marymount Turns to David Carrasco as Water Polo Head Coach
Loyola Marymount All-American David Carrasco is the next leader of its men’s water polo program, the school announced this weekend.
Carrasco takes over for John Loughran, who retired this month after 40 seasons at the helm (including the last 28 for the men’s team), 672 wins and 15 appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Carrasco played for LMU from 2019-22, named an All-American in 2021. He was the team’s associate head coach under Loughran, hired as an assistant for the 2023 season before a promotion in 2024.
“I am so excited to step up and take the head coach position,” Carrasco said in a university statement. “I’m really thankful for the opportunity from the Athletic Department. I appreciate their belief in me. My main goal is to elevate the program to one of the top teams in the country and sustain that success.
“I want to thank Coach Loughran for bringing me to LMU as a player and for later hiring me as an assistant coach, and after one year, promoting me to associate head coach. He believed in me and allowed me to mature and grow as a young person in the United States when I arrived here alone.”
Carrasco graduated in the top 10 in program history with 182 goals, 150 assists, 332 points and 130 steals. The assists figure is the program record, with his 79 assists in his All-American campaign the single-season mark.
Carrasco spent time coaching with both the U.S. and Spanish national teams.
“In a short time, David has emerged as one of the most respected coaches in the country,” LMU athletic director Craig Pintens said. “As one of our all-time greats, his transition to coaching on the pool deck has been smooth and effective. David has a tireless work ethic and a mindset that will drive us toward competing for championships.”