Settem Named Men's Polo Coach

MEN'S WATER POLO:  The Ventura College Athletic Department is proud to announce the hiring of Tim Settem as head coach of the Pirates' men's water polo team. Settem, a former NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year award winner, most recently served as the head coach for the girl's water polo team at Hueneme High School. Additionally, he is the Water Polo Program Director, Performance Specialist for IN-Sideout Sports in Moorpark and directs player development as the head coach for the Sharks Water Polo Club, also in Moorpark. This marks Settem's fourth stint with the Ventura College water polo programs, as he played under coach Larry Baratte in 1992 and 1993, earning All-Western State Conference honors both seasons, was an assistant coach with the men's and women's teams for the 1999 season, and served as a volunteer assistant with the men's team this past year.

Settem brings a litany of success to the VC men's water polo program. He has been involved with the sports of water polo and swimming for 25 years, including his two years as a student athlete at Ventura College. His collegiate coaching experience includes stops at UC Santa Barbara, where he was an assistant for two seasons (2008, 2009),Pepperdine, where he was a volunteer assistant with the men's team (2011), and at Claremont Mudd Scripts Colleges, where he directed both the men's and women's water polo teams for six years (2001-2006). While at CMS, Settem directed both programs to national prominence.

Settem led the CMS women to top-3 national rankings in four of his six seasons, and top-10 rankings in the other two. Claremont placed third nationally in 2003 and 2004 at the Women's Collegiate Division III National Championships and he led the 2006 women's team to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Athena's reached the No. 1 ranking in NCAA Division III polls that season, and finished seventh in the NCAA Division III National Championships. He was named the 2006 NCAA Division III Women's Coach of the Year. Additionally, Settem led the CMS men to top-10 rankings in all six of his seasons directing the Stags.

Settem also spent a season in Australia, coaching the Hunter Hurricanes Water Polo Club, a semi-professional club in Australia's National Water Polo League, in 2011.

Settem has founded and/or coached various water polo clubs since 1999, directing groups in Ventura, Claremont, and Santa Barbara. He also continues active participation in the sport. Settem was a gold medalist at the US Water Polo Master's Nationals in 2004 and a silver medalist at the 2012 US Water Polo Master's Nationals.

A graduate of Buena High School, Settem received his associate's degree from Ventura College in 1994 and his bachelor's degree from Long Beach State in 1997. He earned a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1999.