Tamara Perea enters her second season as the head coach of Siena Water Polo in 2019.
Under her direction, the Saints posted an 8-21 overall record and a 5-9 mark in MAAC play, tied for the best record in the last six seasons and good for a sixth-place conference finish.
Perea coached attacker Diana Fernandez to Second All-MAAC honors and during her rookie campaign, and placed a pair of Saints on the MAAC All-Academic Team.
Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio has appointed Perea to take over the helm of the water polo program in August 2017. The sixth coach in Siena Water Polo history, Perea spent the previous season as an assistant coach at Marist College.
"We welcome Tamara to the Siena family," said Siena College Vice President and Athletic Director John D'Argenio at the time of the hiring. " She will bring passion and energy to our program. Her background from playing to coaching will benefit the student athletes. She brings familiarity of the MAAC and the ability to recruit and develop student athletes."
Perea spent the 2017 season at Marist serving as an assistant coach for the water polo program. During her time with the Red Foxes the team won 11 MAAC games, with an overall record of 20-14 and played in the MAAC Championship game against Wagner.
"Siena is very special and I am excited to begin my head coaching career at Siena," stated Perea. "I'd like to thank John D'Argenio for giving me the opportunity. I am really enjoying the department and everyone within it."
Prior to her stint at Marist, Perea served in a similar role at her alma mater, Pomona-Pitzer College. She first served as the men's water polo assistant coach in 2012 and then became the assistant coach for the women's team from 2013-16. She helped lead Pomona-Pitzer to two straight SCIAC titles in her first two seasons as an assistant for the women. The team won the outright title in 2014, while being named a co-champion in 2015.
Before her time at the collegiate level, Perea served as the head coach of the 14 & under girls water polo team at Foothill Water Polo Club. While there she coached the competitive youth team to the Junior Olympics. In 2014, her team took third place. Along with the club team, Perea was the head coach for the girls water polo team at Claremont High School. During her time there, she also was the head coach for the junior varsity boys water polo team and assistant coach for the varsity boys water polo team.
Prior to her coaching career, Perea standout student-athlete for Pomona-Pitzer from 2007-11. She was named the SCIAC Athlete of the Year as well as being selected as the NCAA Division III Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2011. Perea was also named Pomona-Pitzer's Most Valuable Athlete both of those seasons. She graduated as the program's all-time leading scorer, while also helping the squad to two SCIAC titles and a Division III national championship.
Perea graduated from Pomona-Pitzer in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. After graduation, she continued her playing career professionally in Madrid, Spain, competing for La Latina in the Division de Honor Feminina during the 2011-2012 season.
YEAR-BY-YEAR WITH COACH PEREA
| YEAR |
OVERALL |
PCT |
MAAC |
PCT |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| 2018 |
8-21 |
.276 |
5-9 |
.357 |
Team finished sixth in MAAC standings; Diana Fernandez earned Second Team All-MAAC honors and became the program's all-time leader in ejections drawn |
| TOTALS |
8-21 |
.276 |
5-9 |
.357 |
|
