Water Polo • Swim • Dive

A.A. Arts + Humanities, West Valley College • B.A. History, Santa Clara Univ. • M. Ed Curriculum + Instruction, Univ. of Oregon

My name is “C.J.” D’Arienzo and I am the Aquatics Director and Varsity Boy Water Polo Coach, as well as a Social Studies Teacher on campus.

I got into Aquatics relatively late compared to many in the sport only discovering Water Polo as a way to stay in shape for Basketball season at Archbishop Mitty High School in San Jose. I quickly grew to love water polo and knew that the only way I could get better was to improve my swimming. While in high school I had opportunities to play abroad in Hungary and Spain in addition to several JO’s (junior olympics for water polo) and high-level tournaments in Florida and Southern California. After high school, I went to West Valley College where I competed in both Water Polo and Swimming. I was Captain of both teams from 2009-2011, while there we won two Northern California Championships and one State title in Water Polo and I was a State Championship Qualifier in the 4x100 and 4x50 Relays. 

In 2011 transferred to Santa Clara University where I finished the last two years of my collegiate career as a walk-on transfer. By the time I graduated I had been named an Academic All American twice and given a partial Athletic scholarship. 

After a short-lived playing career in Spain, I found my way into coaching and have never looked back. I have been coaching for the last 13 years in several areas including Eugene, Monterey, San Jose, Antelope, and now Woodcreek. Currently, I coach with Sacramento Water Polo Club and I am a Zone Age Group coach working in our Olympic Development Pipeline (ODP).

In the Fall of 2021, I was recognized as the State Coach of the Year in Boy’s Water Polo by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) which oversees all High School Athletics. I love what I do and I hope that that passion shows in my daily interactions with student-athletes. My most formative memories were created on a pool deck, my desire is to help athletes create positive memories as part of the Woodcreek Aquatic Community. 

Purpose Statement: “I coach to inspire young adults who are determined and disciplined in their endeavors; who serve their communities and the world with integrity, compassion and honor.”