Steve Carrera is currently the Head Women’s Water Polo Coach at the College of Marin. Steve has been charged with starting the College of Marin’s women’s water polo program. In 2019, Coach Steve led the Orange Lutheran GWP program to a trinity league championship, a CIF-SS D1 Semi Final appearance and the 2019 CIF State Championship. In that same year, the OLu boys water polo team won the trinity league championship and was ranked in the top 8 for the majority of the season. Steve was named SOPAC Zone distinguished coach after leading the North Irvine 12 and Under team to a bronze medal in the 2019 Junior Olympics, a gold medal in the US Club Championships and a gold medal in the Cal Cup State Championship.
In 2016, Coach Steve was named CIF Division I Coach of the Year after leading the Orange Lutheran Girls Water Polo team to a CIF Division I Championship. He was also named 2016 Orange County Register's Coach of the Year for girls water polo. In the Fall of 2016, Steve Carrera led the Orange Lutheran Boys Water Polo program to a Division 1 Championship and was again named CIF Division I Coach of the Year. In 2015, Steve Carrera was the recipient of the National Double Goal Coaching award by the Positive Coaching Alliance and was also named Orange County Register's Coach of the Year for boys water polo.
Prior to coming to OLu he was the Head Men's and Women's water polo coach at Concordia University. In 2007, Steve was hired to start the first water polo program in Concordia's history. His stint at Concordia was very impressive going 109 - 48 on the Men's side and 65 - 58 on the Women's. The Concordia Men were ranked as high as 8th in 2009 and as high as 6th in the Country in 2011. Steve coached over 30 Academic All Americans and 11 All- Americans during his time at CUI. Concordia won the NAIA championship 3 times in a row on the men's side and were runners up 4 times on the women's side. Steve was interviewed by Water Polo Planet noting the unprecedented success of the Concordia Water Polo team into top National ranks.
Before arriving at Concordia Steve was the head boys and girls coach at Northwood High School (2000-2007). During his tenure at Northwood, the Timberwolves went from brand new program to CIF powerhouse. Under Steve Carrera, the Timberwolves never had a losing record, won a pair of league titles (2003, 2006), qualified for CIF 6 years in a row, reached the Division I Final (06) and won the 2006 CIF Masters Southern Section Championship (06). Steve coached All League, All County, All American and All CIF water polo players on both the boys and girls side and in 2006 Steve Carrera was named "Coach of the Year" from the Orange County Register.
Steve graduated from Irvine High School in 1995 where he received first team all-Sea View League honors and second team all-CIF honors as a senior. He was also named to the South Orange County All-Star Team. He then went to Saddleback College where he played with his brother, Ed Carrera. After Saddleback, Steve transferred to Queens College in NYC, where he received a full athletic scholarship to play water polo and swim. He was on the inaugural Premier League Division I Northeast team.
Steve earned his Masters degree in Education in 2011 and a Masters in Physical Education in 2014. He is a full time Kinesiology Instructor and Head Swimming and Women’s Water Polo Coach at the College of Marin. He lives in Mill Valley, CA with his wife and four kids.
Coaching Resume
Current Head Women’s Coach & Swim Coach at College of Marin
2012-2019 Head Boys & Girls Water Polo Coach at Orange Lutheran
2007-2012 Head Men’s & Women’s Water Polo Coach at Concordia University
2000 - 2007 Head Boys and Girls Water Polo Coach at Northwood
2008 SOPAC Zone Youth Boys Head Coach
Team Awards
2023 Futures Champions - 16 and Under Boys
2023 US Club Champs 2nd Place - 16 and Under Boys
2023 PacZone Junior Olympic Quals Champions - 16 and Under Boys
2022 PacZone Junior Olympic Quals Champions - 16 and Under Boys
2019 Orange Lutheran Boys Trinity League Champions
2019 Orange Lutheran Girls CIF Regional Division I Champions
2019 Orange Lutheran Girls Trinity League Champions
2019 North Irvine WPC Junior Olympics 3rd Place - 12 and Under Boys
2017 North Irvine WPC Junior Olympics 3rd Place - 18 and Under Boys
2017 North Irvine WPC Junior Olympics 3rd Place - 16 and Under Girls
2016 CIF Division I Boys Water Polo Champions
2016 Orange Lutheran Boys Trinity League Champions
2016 Orange Lutheran Girls Trinity League Champions
2016 CIF Division I Girls Water Polo Champions
2015 North Irvine WPC Junior Olympics 1st Place - 16 and Under Boys
2009 - 2012 NAIA National Champions Concordia University
2006 CIF Division I Runner Up - Northwood HS
2006 Sea View League Champions - Northwood HS
2005 Sea View League Champions - Northwood HS
Coaching Awards
2023 Futures Top Coach Award
2019 USA Water Polo Monte Nitzkowski Distinguished Coaching Award
2016 Girls Water Polo CIF D1 Coach of the Year
2016 OC Register Coach of the Year Girls Water Polo
2016 Boys Water Polo CIF D1 Coach of the Year
2016 USA Water Polo Doc Hunkler Distinguished Womens Coach Award
2016 USA Water Polo Bill Barrnett Mens Coach Award
2015 National Double Goal Coaching award by the Positive Coaching Alliance
2014 OC Register Coach of the Year Boys Water Polo
2007 - 2012 Concordia University Head Mens Coach
2008 - 2012 Concordia University Head Women’s Coach
2006 OC Register Coach of the Year Boys Water Polo