SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara women's water polo head coach
Claire Linney announced Wednesday the hiring of Emily Diacono as the program's new assistant coach.
Diacono arrives at Santa Clara following coaching stops at Mount St. Mary's University, Fresno State, and with various age-group and high school programs, bringing a wide range of experience in player development, mental performance, and team operations. She most recently served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's water polo teams at Mount St. Mary's in Maryland, where she was involved in all facets of the program including training, recruiting, scouting, and academic support.
"I am very excited to welcome Emily to our program," said Linney. "She has a passion for coaching and will bring knowledge, energy, and competitiveness to our program. Emily is very familiar with our conference and knows what it takes to succeed in it, having played and won two GCC championships with Fresno State. As a coach, she has sought many opportunities to grow and learn and we are excited for her to bring her skills to Santa Clara."
Diacono brings a strong background in athletics, having played four seasons of Division I water polo at Fresno State, where she was a two-time Golden Coast Conference champion and helped the Bulldogs to two NCAA Tournament appearances. A four-time Academic All-American, she graduated cum laude with a degree in Kinesiology – Exercise Science in 2022. Diacono has continued her water polo career professionally with San Giljan ASC in Malta.
In addition to her coaching and playing experience, Diacono has also worked as a sports performance intern at Fresno State and served as a mental performance coach, emphasizing athlete well-being through initiatives like the 'Unpack Your Bag' campaign.
"I am beyond excited to join Coach Linney and the Santa Clara women's water polo program," Diacono said. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the amazing culture that has been created over the years. I'm especially looking forward to working with this talented group of student-athletes – both in and out of the pool. It's an honor to be part of the Bronco community, and I'm excited for what this next chapter holds."
Diacono's coaching career has also included work with Orlando Thunder, Bulldog WPC, and Clovis North High School JV Girls Water Polo programs.
