Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Neushul will be next head coach for San Marcos girls water polo

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Chuckie Roth is a tough act to follow but Jamie Neushul certainly has the respect and the resume to make it a seamless head coaching transition at San Marcos High School.

KEYT Sports has learned that 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist Jamie Neushul will be the next head coach of the San Marcos Royals highly successful girls water polo program after Roth steps down following this season.

"I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead the San Marcos Girls Water Polo program," said Neushul in a press release. "Chuckie Roth is truly one of a kind — a pillar of our aquatics community whose competitive spirit and deep knowledge of the sport have shaped countless young women, including me. There is no replacing him, and I’m grateful for his support during this transition. I know he’ll continue to be one of the program’s biggest cheerleaders.

Santa Barbara water polo has always been close to my heart and has opened so many doors in my life. After moving back to town with my fiancé, it feels natural to stay involved in a community that raised me — from my years competing at Dos Pueblos, to coaching at Santa Barbara High, to my ongoing work with Santa Barbara Water Polo Club. With long-standing coaches like Chris Parrish, Mark Walsh, and Chuckie, this community has set an incredible standard, and I see this role as a chance to give back to the place that shaped me as both a player and a person.

San Marcos has an exceptionally motivated group of girls who love this sport and understand the work it takes to grow. But we’re teaching more than water polo. Above all else, I hope to help them build confidence, resilience, and the skills to take on challenges well beyond high school — in or out of the pool."

(Neushul and San Marcos alum Paige Hauschild show off gold medal).

Neushul has been a standout player at every level of water polo from Santa Barbara Water Polo Club, to Dos Pueblos High School, at Stanford and for Team USA.

She helped lead the DP Chargers to two CIF-Southern Section Division 1 titles in 2010 and 2011.

Neushul is a 3-time NCAA National Champion and a 4-time All-American at Stanford.

(Jamie helped the Cardinal to NCAA titles in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Courtesy Stanford Athletics).

Jamie Neushul spent last season coaching for the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club that her mom Cathy Neushul has built into a nationally recognized elite training program.

(Jamie celebrating with her 14B Santa Barbara Water Polo Club team at 2025 Junior Olympics)

Jamie Neushul has already coached several of the current Royals players at the club level.

Chuckie Roth announced to his team at the beginning of the school year that he needed to step away from the girls program as he was spread too thin with all of his other coaching (SBCC Water Polo, San Marcos boys and girls swim team, assistant boys coach and club) and teaching duties.

Aaron Solis(Athletic Director) Quote - “While understanding and agreeing with Coach Roth’s decision, there is still a sadness in him stepping down. He has created one of the best programs in the country, instilling a team culture that is not only successful in the pool, but also in the classroom and in creating outstanding young adults. He is such a valuable asset to the Athletic program and school as a whole and I am happy he is continuing to help with the Boys team and lead our swimming teams and be able to coach his sons. “

We are so excited to have Coach Neushul join the Royal family for next season. Her experience as a player and a coach is invaluable and will be necessary to continue the success that Coach Roth has started. I look forward to seeing her establish her own team culture. Once she expressed interest in the position, we knew she was the one.”

Principal Dare Holdren quote - “Coach Roth is an amazing mentor and coach, and I am so happy that he will continue to lead our swim programs. I’m especially appreciative that he’ll have the opportunity to work with his sons as they move through the boys program. Nobody can ever replace Chuckie. That said, I am beyond thrilled that Jaime will be taking over the program. Her values and character align with ours, her experience is unmatched, and I can’t even imagine how great an experience it would be to play for a gold medalist.”