Alex Williams enters his fifth season as the Head Coach of Siena Water Polo in 2024. Named the seventh head coach in program history on Oct. 22, 2019, Williams will look to position the Saints as a competitive program in the MAAC and in regional competition.
Under Williams' direction, the Saints produced three All-MAAC selections and two Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches All-America Honorable Mention selections. Senior center Georgia Vargas was named a Second Team All-MAAC selection following the 2022 season, while senior Bianca Prinsloo was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American.
Siena combated the challenges of a shortened 2021 campaign by recording the program's first win against a ranked opponent when it defeated #25 Iona, 13-5, at the Siena Swim Center on April 24, 2021. Attacker Bianca Prinsloo and goalkeeper Anna Mossakowski were both honored as Second Team All-MAAC selections, while a record 13 Saints were placed on the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches Academic All-American squad.
Williams coached the Green and Gold to a 7-6 record during their abbreviated 2020 campaign, marking the first time in program history that the team finished the year with a winning mark. Siena concluded its campaign with a 27-5 win over Connecticut College, which set single-game records in goals scored and margin of victory. Senior Diana Fernandez was named given Honorable Mention All American honors from the ACWPC for the second straight year, while six Saints were named to the MAAC All-Academic squad.
The San Diego, California native joined the Saints after having spent the 2019 season as an assistant coach with both the Iona College Men’s and Women’s Water Polo teams.
"We are excited to have Alex join the Siena family as our water polo coach,” Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D’Argenio said upon Williams' appointment. “He made a great connection with our student athletes when he visited and his laid out a strong plan for helping our team advance."
Williams matriculated to Siena from fellow MAAC member Iona. This past spring, while working under the direction of longtime head coach Brian Kelly, Williams helped guide Iona to 16 wins and a victory in the MAAC Tournament Consolation Game. Three Gaels earned All-MAAC honors during his tenure, while eight were named to the MAAC All-Academic Team and 11 were recognized for their academic success by the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches.
“I am humbled to be entrusted with leading the Siena Water Polo Program,” Williams said upon his hiring. “I realized quickly during the interview process that the players and the athletic department were hungry to build the program the right way. I’m grateful to AD John D’Argenio and Associate AD Andrew Santandera for the opportunity, and I’m looking forward to teaching our current and future student athletes what it means to ‘honor the process.’
Prior to his time on the East Coast, Williams served as the head coach of the boys and girls water polo teams at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego from 2013-2018, guiding the girls to the CIF San Diego Section Open Division Quarterfinals in 2017 and the boys to the Division I Semifinals the following year.
Working under the guidance of Doug Peabody and Tim Reed, he also coached the San Diego Shores Water Polo Club team for three years, serving as the head coach for the girls’ 18U “B” team and an assistant for the “A” squad. Shores earned a silver medal in the 2017 Junior Olympics Gold Division.
Williams’ coaching career began while attending the University of Arizona, where he served as an assistant to the women’s club team in 2009, and as its head coach in 2010.
Williams was a four-year member of the club water polo program at Arizona, and served as its president from 2009-10. He was named to the Collegiate Water Polo Association Southwest Conference First Team in each of his final two seasons, and was an Honorable Mention selection for the 2009 CWPA All-American Team. He earned bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Accounting from Arizona’s prestigious Eller College of Management in 2011.
Year-by-Year With Coach Williams
| YEAR |
OVERALL |
PCT |
MAAC |
PCT |
CONF FINISH |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| 2020 |
7-6 |
.538 |
0-0 |
.000 |
N/A |
First winning record in program history; Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic |
| 2021 |
1-8 |
.111 |
1-8 |
.111 |
7th |
Program earned its first-ever win against a ranked opponent; Two players earned Second Team All-MAAC honors |
| 2022 |
4-25 |
.138 |
1-15 |
.062 |
8th |
Georgia Vargas earned Second Team All-MAAC honors; Bianca Prinsloo named ACWPC All-America Honorable Mention |
| 2023 |
5-23 |
.179 |
1-12 |
.077 |
9th |
Parker Thomas twice named MAAC Rookie of the Week; Grave Boeve once named MAAC Offensive Player of the Week |
| TOTALS |
17-62 |
.215 |
3-35 |
.080 |
