LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola Athletics announces Sarah Orozco as its first head women's water polo coach. Orozco joins the Biola Athletics staff this summer, in advance of women's water polo's first season of competition scheduled for spring 2022. She comes to Biola after spending the 2016-2020 seasons as the assistant coach at Azusa Pacific. Orozco played collegiately at UCLA from 2008-2012, winning a national championship with the Bruins in 2008-09 season.

"Coach Orozco is a perfect fit to launch the Biola women's water polo program. What is particularly impressive is her desire to use water polo to develop Christian women to integrate their faith into all aspects of life," said Dr. Bethany Miller, senior director of athletics. "She has competed at the highest levels, is excellent in her work ethic and is committed to the spiritual formation of student-athletes. We can't be more excited to welcome her to the Biola Athletics team!"

"I am looking forward to being able to make an impact in the lives of student-athletes relationally, physically, emotionally, and most importantly spiritually," said Orozco. "My hope is that I can prepare student-athletes through the sport of water polo with the same skills that we will use to champion life ahead. I'm excited for the opportunity to coach water polo at the collegiate level, to hold and break records, and Lord-willing to take the program to heights beyond its limits."

During her time at APU, the Cougars won 53 matches and had their best conference finish in program history. In 2019, she helped Azusa Pacific to a 19-14 overall record, which is the most wins in a single season in their 11-year program history.

She helped the team finish its 2019 season off with a pair of wins at the Golden Coast Conference Tournament. The Cougars beat Concordia Irvine 12-5 and California Baptist 11-7 to end up in fifth-place in the extremely competitive NCAA Division I/NCAA Division II conference.

"Sarah will be a great addition to the Biola team. She is passionate about water polo, excellence, and developing women," said Julie Snodgrass, APU head women's water polo coach. "She leads with integrity and it has been great to watch her develop into the coach that she is today. I'm excited water polo will now be able to join the Brick Game schedule and we look forward to the growth of the sport and the growth of the women that will be a part of the Biola program in years to come."

Orozco was a four-year varsity water polo and swimming letter winner at Montebello High School. She earned All-Almont League first team honors in each of her four seasons and captured Almont League MVP and Montebello team MVP honors in 2008.

She was a standout in the state, earning All-CIF Division I honors as a sophomore, junior and senior and MVP honors at the 2008 All-San Gabriel Valley All-Star Game. Her team won the Almont League Championship all four seasons and made it to the CIF Division I title match in 2006 and 2007.

Orozco also had a decorated club career, competing for the Commerce Club Team. She helped lead Commerce to four national Junior Olympic Club Championships and was a four-time Junior Olympics All-America selection. She twice earned national Junior Olympics MVP honors and two Commerce Club Water Polo Club MVP awards. Notably, she also served as a member of the U.S. Youth National Team in 2005 and 2007.

"Biola got a terrific up-and-coming coach in women's water polo," said Gary Pine, APU director of athletics. "Sarah has been a champion at the high collegiate levels of the sport, and she understands what it takes to succeed personally and as a team. She is well-connected and admired in the sport, and thus has personnel resources to lean into as she builds the program from scratch. She is a great fit for Biola and will enhance the university's mission of impacting women for Christ."

Following her high school career, she continued on to UCLA where she helped the team win its fifth-consecutive national championship in 2009. During that championship season, Orozco earned All-MPSF Freshman Team honors and led the team with 41 earned exclusions. 

During her four seasons with the Bruins Orozco scored 84 goals, recorded 23 assists and added 38 steals. Most of her impact was felt in her ability to set up 6-on-5 situations for her team. Over the course of her collegiate career, Orozco drew over 100 exclusions from her opponents.

During her senior season, she earned a spot on the All-NCAA tournament team, leading the team in goals during the tournament (8) as the Bruins finished third in the nation. During three of her four seasons at UCLA Orozco had the chance to play alongside her sister, Priscilla Orozco.

"We are thrilled to welcome coach Orozco into the Biola Athletics family," said Neil Morgan, associate athletic director. "It is clear that she will care well for her student-athletes, both in and out of the pool. Her previous coaching and playing experiences will set the program up for success as it launches in 2021-22."

She earned a BA in History during her time at UCLA and has been at Talbot School of Theology studying Pastoral Care & Counseling since Fall 2019.

Following her time in Westwood, Orozco played professionally from 2012-14. She was a US Open Water Polo Champion with the New York Athletic Club and also played in the top leagues in Australia and Spain with Drummoyne Water Polo Club and Club Natacio Sant Andreu. She also participated in the 2011 Pan American Games as a member of the Mexican Senior National Team.

In 2015 she was inducted into the City of Commerce Hall of Champions. The purpose of the City of Commerce Athletic Hall of Champions is to recognize and honor those Commerce athletes who excelled in their respective sports who helped to bring honor, recognition, distinction and excellence to the City of Commerce by their conduct both on and off the field, court, swimming pool or other venue of competition.

"It is my hope, through my experience of water polo and life, that I get to integrate sports and faith in a manner that is encouraging, equipping and life-giving. I am excited to be able to combine my physical and spiritual strengths to give student-athletes a complete competitive collegiate experience," said Orozco. "Student-athletes at Biola will both relentlessly play the sport of water polo and take the time to grow and affirm a personal identity in Christ beyond water polo. Athletes will strive to deeply know who they are becoming in these next four pivotal, challenging and transformational years of their lives so that sanctification through faith and sports can take place."

Orozco will have one full academic year to recruit the first class of student-athletes for Biola Women's Water Polo. The program will play its home matches at SPLASH! Aquatic Center, right across the street from Biola's campus. 

She is a SoCal native, who attends CrossPoint Christian Church in Whittier. She's attended CrossPoint since 2015, when her lifetime home church New Life Community Church merged with Whittier Church of Christ. She volunteers regularly at the church as a worship team vocalist, Upward Sports cheerleading assistant commissioner, children's choir assistant, and is actively involved in the young adult ministry.

Orozco officially begins her Biola tenure on July 1. Prospective student-athletes interested in Biola Women's Water Polo should fill out the Biola Women's Water Polo Recruiting Questionnaire. Contact information for coach Orozco will be posted on athletics.biola.edu following her start date.