SAN DIEGO –Dana Ochsner, San Diego State interim water polo head coach during the 2023 season, has been named the full-time leader of the program. The announcement was made on Tuesday by SDSU Athletics Director John David Wicker.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue the journey that we started this year and excited for the future of Aztec water polo," Ochsner said. "I would like to thank Athletic Director John David Wicker for his trust in me and my staff to guide our program back to the highest level of success. I would also like to thank sports liaison Lisa Pearson for her continued support and guidance. This season we built a strong foundation from which we will continue to grow and work toward our goal of regional and national prominence."
After three years as an Aztec assistant, Ochsner, who competed at California and earned All-American honors for the Bears, assumed control of the program prior to last season. She kept SDSU in the top-25 throughout the 2023 campaign and finished with a No. 22 national ranking.
Under her tutelage, grad transfer Amanda Legaspi earned first-team All-Golden Coast Conference (GCC) designation and Attacker Claudia Valdes was named a member of the GCC All-Freshman Team. Valdes paced the team in shots (126), goals (54), points (87) & steals (44), was second in assists (33), third in exclusions drawn (24), sprints won (6) and shot percentage, among players who attempted at least two shots per game (.429) and was fourth in blocks (11). Among league competitors the Madrid, Spain native ranked No. 1 in steals, No. 2 in steals per game, No. 7 in assists, No. 8 in points, No. 9 in points per game, No. 9 in points per game.
Legaspi, who transferred to San Diego State from UC Santa Barbara, led the team ejections drawn (59), was second in shots (112), goals (49), points (75), shot percentage, among players who attempted at least two shots per game (.438), and sprints won (11), was third in assists (26) and steals (32). Her steals total ranked No. 7 in the GCC.
The Aztecs posted a 4-3 record in Golden Coast Conference play, finished in fourth place in the conference tournament, and overall were 12-19 on the season.