Coaches and Staff
George Mitchell
Coach Mitchell is the Director of SCWP. He is also the Head Girls Water Polo Coach at St. Charles North High School. He is a French teacher at Thompson Middle School in D303. In addition to that, Coach Mitchell also works as an ODP Coach for USA Water Polo and the Midwest Zone.
Coach Mitchell is a graduate of Palatine High School (2008). He received his Bachelors Degree in French with a concentration in Secondary Education from Illinois Wesleyan University (2012). Coach Mitchell also has a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Concordia University in Chicago. He has been coaching water polo since 2013 and has coached for Saint Viator High School, Palatine High School, and NWC Water Polo before starting at St. Charles in 2018.
In his free time, he enjoys staying fit and active and spending time with his family and friends, specifically his niece Lucy and his nephew Orie.
Ellis O'Connor
Coach Ellis began her water polo career at Evanston Township High School. While in high school, she played for North Beach Water Polo Club as well as the Northern Illinois Polo Club (NIPC). Ellis then attended the University of Michigan, where she played on the division I water polo team for one year. Following a shoulder injury and surgery, she played for the University of Michigan Women's Water Polo Club for three years. During that time, Ellis was named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) all-american team three times, and she was named the Big Ten MVP in 2014 and 2015. Ellis also served as captain for the team during the 2015 season. Coach Ellis since coached the high school and youth programs at New Trier Aquatics for three years. She has coached for St. Charles Aquatics since 2021. Ellis continues to play master's water polo occasionally.
You can also see her running or cycling on the streets and trails in the St. Charles area!
Brianna DiCicco
Coach Bri is thrilled to be coaching with SCWP! She is an assistant coach for the 14U Youth and High School Girls teams.
Coach Bri is a goalie and a graduate of St. Charles East High School. She is currently attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying English with a concentration in Secondary Education. Coach Bri hopes to teach High School English and coach a team of her own one day. In addition to playing at St. Charles East, she is an alumnus of SCWP and is currently playing club water polo in college.
Mike Mitchell
Coach Mike is an assistant coach with SCWP. He is also an IHSA Certified Level Water Polo Referee, as well as an NCAA registered Water Polo referee. He has refereed the IHSA State series three different years. He has also refereed at the CWPA Club National Tournament in 2016. He is an automotive mechanic, who has worked for United Parcel Service since 1991.
Coach Mike attended Loyola Academy HS from 1972 until 1976 where he swam and played water polo. After many years away from the pool, he decided to return in 2006. In addition to refereeing, he has played with the Glenbrook Gator masters team and coached with the NWC Water Polo. Currently Mike is an IHSA rules interpreter, as well as a member of the IHSA Athletic Officials Advisory Committee. In his free time, he enjoys fitness and spending time with his grandchildren. He and his wife Claire have been married for 37 years.
