Coaching Staff
Boys Varsity Head Coach
Nicholas Jordan
Email: acalanesmwp@gmail.com
PH: 916-225-9128
Coaching Bio:
Nick was born and raised in Sacramento, CA in a water polo and swim family. He is one of three brothers who swam and played water polo growing up. Nick’s mother played water polo at UC Santa Barbara, and his father coached his high school and club teams.
Water sports began at an early age for Nick. He learned to swim in his backyard by age three, and was soon involved in youth swimming and water polo. Nick attended El Camino High School where he earned 1st team all-league honors and was league MVP while playing water polo. After high school, Nick went on to play collegiate water polo at UC Santa Barbara, and captained the team during his final year. During this time Nick trained with both the Junior National Team and Senior National Teams.
Post college, Nick played professionally in Europe for SC Neustadt and then returned to Sacramento and coached for his childhood club, American River Water Polo. There he coached 12u, 14u, and helped with 16u and 18u teams. Nick also directed high school swim and polo clinics during the summer for athletes entering their high school season.
Nick has taught Physical Education at Claremont Middle school in Oakland for the past three years and currently coaches water polo for CC United.
As Acalanes Men’s Water Polo Head Coach, Nick envisions building a program focusing on a positive team atmosphere where athletes: feel valued and included; build positive & effective social skills; learn, develop, and implement individual skills and team strategies; and learn to compete at the highest level while demonstrating good sportsmanship.
Nick’s goal is to provide a positive experience for athletes and families and to build a program that the Acalanes community can be proud of.
Boys JV Coach:
Ron Johnson:
Coaching Bio:
Born and raised in the east bay, Ron grew up in Pinole. Moved around the country for a few years and is now back in the east bay and married to Acalanes own, VP Jeanne Johnson. They have two adult children with a soon be son in-law.
Ron began playing water polo at Pinole Valley High, after growing up playing baseball for many years. Ron went on to play water polo at Long Beach St. and got to play in a NCAA championship. After college Ron continued to swim and play water polo with different masters teams, he continues to play today with East Bay Masters and Eldad's water polo.
Ron's day job is that of a owner of a Farmers Insurance agency in Walnut Creek. Prior to coming to Acalanes, Ron coached Varsity boys water polo at Concord and Dougherty Valley high schools for 11 years. Also, more recently coached three years for 680 12u's. So probably coached against some of the current players when they were younger.
Coaching at Acalanes is kinda full circle for Ron, who played for Steve Heaston and Ron Richison on the Concord Water Polo club back in the early 80's in the old Acalanes pool
Ron's goal is to give back to the sport and teach and coach athletes to have them continuously improve and have fun doing it!
Boys JV Coach:
Jake Norton:
925-360-9746
Coaching Bio:
Jake Norton is a proud Acalanes Alumni, class of 2006. He played Water Polo at Acalanes under the legendary Ron Richardson for Junior Varsity and long-time Coach Brian Monte for Varsity, placing 2nd at NCS his senior year. He swam for and taught swim lessons for Springbrook growing up as well as Acalanes specializing in the 50 free. Jake went on to play at UC Davis Graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics. During College Jake worked at the UC Davis rec pool as both a lifeguard and swim instructor. After Graduating, Jake started his career as a Commercial Real Estate Broker focusing in the sale and leasing of office space across Alameda and Contra Costa County; he is currently a Vice President at Transwestern Commercial Services in Oakland/ Walnut Creek. He works with Contra Costa United (CCU) coaching the 16 and under program. Jake lives in Lafayette with his wife Julie, his son, Coach Teddy, and his daughter, Ginny (both of which will swim for Sun Valley in their future). Jake is invested in the Lafayette community and looking forward to contributing to the growth and continued strength of Lafayette Water Polo