Coach Loughran Announces Retirement Following Highly ...
Loyola Marymount University men's water polo head coach John Loughran will retire this year after nearly three decades with the program.
"We are very thankful to John for his contributions to our water polo programs as he is one of the most accomplished coaches in LMU history," Athletic Director Craig Pintens said. "We wish Coach Loughran well in his future endeavors."
LMU will immediately begin a search for a new head coach for the men's team.
Loughran, hired in 1997 to lead LMU's men's and women's water polo programs, achieved remarkable success over his tenure. He amassed 416 wins across his 28 seasons leading the men's team, and added 256 wins during 12 seasons leading the women's program.
Loughran's tenure included seven WWPA men's water polo regular-season championships, one WCC men's water polo regular season championship title, and eight WWPA conference tournament championships. He also led the team to eight final four finishes in the NCAA men's water polo tournament.
Loughran also guided the program to seven WWPA women's water polo championships, including an impressive streak of five consecutive titles from 2001 to 2005. Under his leadership, the team made seven NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by an unforgettable run to the NCAA National Championship game in 2004.
In total, Loughran has won 672 games and made 15 NCAA Tournaments leading the Lions.
Loughran has coached 23 players to 42 men's ACWPC All-American honors. His women's teams have earned 20 All-American honors and have included seven WWPA Player of the Year winners. Adding to his impressive resume, Loughran has won nine WWPA Coach of the Year honors, four in women's water polo (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004) and five in men's water polo (2001, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010).
Loughran's Lions became the only program of any sport in LMU history to win three straight conference championships on two different occasions with the men winning in 2003, 2004, and 2005, then again in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
Over the last three years, the LMU men's water polo program has received a perfect 100 GSR under Loughran. The NCAA developed the Graduate Success Rate to more accurately assess the academic success of student-athletes. Only Brown, UCLA, Fordham, Harvard, Santa Clara, Stanford, and Wagner join LMU with perfect marks over that time.
