Once a Bruin, always a Bruin.
Former UCLA men’s water polo member James Robinson-O’Brien has been named the new UCLA women’s water polo head coach – becoming the fifth head coach in program history.
Robinson-O’Brien heads to Westwood after a four-year coaching stint at Hawai’i, serving as an associate head coach for the first two before taking the helm for the next two. The Rainbow Wahine went 22-5 in his first year as head honcho, giving him the highest winning percentage – at .815 – of any first-year head coach in program history.
The Palos Verdes Estates, California, local led the Rainbow Wahine to an overall record of 38-11 across his two seasons as head coach, including a perfect 13-0 in Big West play. Capturing back-to-back conference titles and top-five finishes in the Collegiate Water Polo Association Top 25 poll, Robinson-O’Brien was named two-time Big West Coach of the Year.
“I am extremely excited and honored to lead the UCLA women’s water polo program into its next chapter,” Robinson-O’Brien said in a UCLA Athletics press release. “UCLA and this program mean the world to my family and me, and being able to return to my alma mater to coach is a privilege. I am looking forward to building upon UCLA women’s water polo’s storied history of academic and athletic excellence.”
It will be a return for Robinson-O’Brien, whose playing and early coaching careers can be traced back to Westwood.
Signed by current UCLA men’s water polo coach Adam Wright out of high school, Robinson-O’Brien redshirted the 2013 season with Wright’s squad before tallying 44 goals, 48 assists and 35 steals in 55 career games wearing the blue and gold. Robinson-O’Brien won three national championships as a Bruin during one of the most successful stretches in program history before playing professionally in Australia.
After his playing career concluded, Robinson-O’Brien began coaching at the collegiate level under Wright with the women’s water polo program from 2020-22. As an assistant coach, the Bruins went 58-13 and finished as the nation’s runner up in 2021.
“James embodies True Bruin values,” athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a UCLA Athletics press release. “He is a champion, an outstanding teacher and a lifelong Bruin who understands the expectations and traditions of this program. During his time at Hawai’i, he established himself as one of the brightest young coaches in the country.”
UCLA women’s water polo concluded the 2026 season with a record of 21-5, earning third place in the MPSF Tournament before suffering an 11-10 loss to USC in the national semifinals.
Wright, who had coached the Bruins since 2017, announced July 17 that he would step down as head coach while continuing to lead the men’s program.
[Related: UCLA women’s water polo coach Adam Wright steps down, remains men’s coach]
Now, with Robinson-O’Brien at the helm for next season, the Bruins have the opportunity to capture their ninth NCAA title and first since 2024.
“James has proven that he has a bright future in the world of water polo, not only as a coach but as a leader of young people,” Senior Associate Athletics Director, Academic & Championship Excellence Dr. Kenny Donaldson said in a UCLA Athletics press release. “James has emphasized how big of an impact this program and university have had, not only on him, but also on his family, and we could not be more thrilled in having him return to lead this storied program.”
