The Shore Aquatics water polo group will no longer be able to rent the Cal State Long Beach pool beginning May 1 in order to give coaches more control over their programs, according to Vic Cegles, director of athletics.
Cegles said the university is allowing the men’s and women’s varsity water polo team coaches to “manage their own club, as most nationally recognized teams do.”
Cegles said the decision will “strengthen the bottom line in a difficult economy, enabling us to compensate staff and improve a facility in desperate need of locker rooms, lights and fan seating.”
The decision to deny pool access to Shore Aquatics, which was made by head coach Gavin Arroyo, will also enable coaches to find new ways to generate more income, Cegles said.
“This allows them to earn some outside income that will allow us to keep coaches at Long Beach State instead of having them leave for better paying jobs elsewhere,” Assistant Athletic Director Todd Miles said in an e-mail.
Shore Aquatics is upset with the change after years of playing in the 49er pool. Its history with CSULB began in 1995 after Beach Swim Club dropped water polo.
“I’m disappointed [the sides] couldn’t work things out,” said Garrit Barth, Shore Aquatics head coach.
He said the children he works with are affected the most.
“I just tell them to keep playing — it doesn’t matter where,” Barth said.
Shores Aquatic will use the Wilson High School pool and is currently searching for other pool facilities as well, according to Barth.