Scott Taylor Named Coach of the Year After Leading Golden West to Ninth Straight State Title

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Golden West College men's water polo head coach Scott Taylor has been named the 2025 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) and 3C2A State Coach of the Year following another historic championship season that culminated in the program's ninth consecutive state championship.

Under Taylor's leadership, the Rustlers delivered one of the most dominant campaigns in program history during the 2025 season, capturing their 55th Orange Empire Conference title—and 36th straight—along with their 38th Southern California Regional championship (11th consecutive) and 32nd overall state championship, extending their remarkable run to nine straight state crowns.

The 2025 title marked Taylor's 15th state championship as head coach, and his 17th overall, as he also claimed two state titles as a student-athlete at Golden West College during the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Over his storied coaching career, Taylor has compiled an extraordinary 688–50 record, good for a 93.2 winning percentage, establishing him as one of the most successful coaches in collegiate water polo history.

In addition to earning 3C2A State Coach of the Year honors, Taylor was also named the Orange Empire Conference Coach of the Year for the 2025 season.

When asked about sustaining the program's elite standards year after year, Taylor credited the commitment of his student-athletes.

"I'm most proud of all the student-athletes who have bought into the program's tradition of excellence," Taylor said. "We work hard to create a competitive environment and winning culture with like-minded student-athletes. We have high expectations academically and athletically, and that creates a competitive environment daily."

Taylor also reflected on the journey of the 2025 season and the people who helped make it possible.

"I'm very proud of all our former and current student-athletes. What a great journey we had this 2025 season," Taylor added. "I'm especially thankful to my mentor, Ken Hamdorf, assistant coaches Peter Janov, Garrett Zaan, Dave Pickford, Gabe Buso, and Madison Hayden, our strength coach."

With another championship season in the books, Golden West now turns its focus to the future. The Rustlers will enter the 2026 season with an even larger target on their backs as they pursue an unprecedented 10th consecutive 3C2A state championship, continuing one of the most dominant dynasties in California community college athletics.