Santa Clara University

5th Year (in 2026)
Santa Clara ’09

Record at Santa Clara (through 2025 season): 31-83 (4 seasons)
Career College Coaching Record: Same

Former Bronco team captain and MVP Claire Linney is entering her fifth season at the helm of the Santa Clara women's water polo program in 2025-26.

Linney spent eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Broncos' men's water polo program and seven with the women's program, serving under head coach Keith Wilbur. She was elevated to head women's coach in September 2021.

In her first four seasons as head coach, Linney has guided the Broncos to 31 overall victories, with wins in Golden Coast Conference play each season from 2022-24. That includes Santa Clara's first 10-win season in five years in 2023.

Under her leadership, four Broncos have collected a total of five all-GCC awards in four years. Lauren Baglietto (2022), Kate Rodman (2023) and Elle Frederickson (2024) each earned second team honors. 2025 marked the first time in four years the Broncos grabbed multiple all-conference awards, with Rodman adding an honorable mention nod to her collection and Chloe Rizof being the first Bronco named to the GCC All-Freshmen team since 2021.

Linney has also raised the level of the Broncos' success in the classroom. Santa Clara had a record 17 student-athletes named to the 2024 GCC All-Academic Team. The Broncos collected 15 All-Academic honors from the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches in 2024 as well.

The native of Watsonville, Calif., served as assistant coach at Cal State Monterey Bay from 2010-12. She helped the team to its best-ever finish in the Western Water Polo Association. The Otters finished 18-15 overall, including a semifinal appearance in the 2012 WWPA Tournament. Under her tutelage, Nikki Smart was named the NCAA Division II Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012.

In addition, she served as the head varsity boys coach at Salinas High School where was a two-time Monterey Bay League Coach of the Year.

Linney was first hired to the Santa Clara water polo staff in August 2014.

As a senior at Santa Clara, Linney was team captain and MVP. During that 2009 season, the Broncos made it to the WWPA Championship game, which was the best finish for the program at the conference tournament.

Linney played at Aptos High School and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2014.

She graduated from Santa Clara in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

Head Coach, Santa Clara
2022 - Present