Ricks hired as CdM girls’ water polo coach

Shortly after introducing himself as the new girls’ water polo coach at Corona del Mar High, Kevin Ricks challenged his players during an afternoon meeting on Wednesday.

“With CdM, there is tremendous tradition,” said Ricks, a former Santa Margarita coach. “With this group of girls, I told them to put their own stamp on it and work toward it. We will work really hard to work toward those standards.”

Ricks was named the new girls’ coach, the school announced on Wednesday. He had been coaching girls’ 14-and-under for Newport Water Polo Foundation, working with Brian Melstrom, who is also the Newport Harbor girls’ water polo coach.

Ricks previously coached both girls’ (11 seasons) and boys’ (eight seasons) water polo at Santa Margarita. During that time, his teams won a CIF championship and eight league titles, and he was named CIF Southern Section Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2013, his final season with the girls.

He said he left coaching at Santa Margarita to spend more time with his family, including two children.

But he enjoyed his time returning with NWPF.

“I had a blast,” said Ricks, who takes over for Ross Sinclair, who left to coach boys’ water polo at his alma mater, Newport Harbor. “I just had a great experience with the parents and families. It was really positive. When Ross jumped back across the bay, I saw the opportunity and I threw my name in. I went through the interview process and we’re here today.

After playing water polo and swimming at Mt. Carmel High in San Diego, Ricks attended UC Santa Barbara and was a member of the Gauchos men’s water polo team from 1995-99. He went on to become an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s water polo programs at UCSB from 2000-2002 before coaching at Santa Margarita.

“We look forward to Kevin working with our outstanding student-athletes in carrying on our strong girls’ water polo tradition,” CdM Athletic Director Don Grable said in an e-mail.

Ricks said he was humbled when being named the Sea Kings’ new coach.

“Newport and CdM are, in the world of aquatics, at the very top,” he said. “Both are storied programs. The opportunity to lead one of the top programs is an honor. Their programs are unbelievable. CdM has sent countless girls to play college for polo and quite a few have played on the youth national team.”