Head Coach Brandon Rivas
Former Fighting Owl Brandon Rivas begins his second year as the Head Coach of the Citrus College Men’s Water Polo program. Rivas is just the program’s third head coach in its history.
Rivas who played for the Fighting Owls in 2007, spent the three years as the top assistant for the Women's Water Polo team before taking over as the Men's Head Coach in 2010. In that span the Lady Owls made back to back WSC Championship game appearances.
An accomplished high school player, Rivas played three varsity seasons for nearby Charter Oak High School earning 2nd team All-CIF honors in the process. Upon graduation from high school Rivas played one season for Pomona Pitzer before transferring to Citrus as a sophomore where he scored 12 goals and recorded three assists.
Rivas is married to former Citrus College Women's Water Polo player Crystal Fabela, and resides with her and their two sons in Covina.
Assistant Coach Mike Bunten
Assistant Coach Mike Bunten begins his first season with the Citrus College Men’s Water Polo program. Bunten comes to the Fighting Owls after a successful stint as a Head Coach at two local high schools over the last eight seasons.
For the previous six years, Bunten served as the Head Women’s Water Polo Coach at Charter Oak High School. In that span, Bunten led the Chargers to two CIF Playoff Appearances. Prior to Charter Oak, Bunten spent two seasons with Claremont High Schools where he served as the Head Men’s and Women’s Water Polo Coach. Bunten was also an assistant coach for one season with the Foothill Water Polo Club, helping his squad qualify for the Junior Olympics.
Before who made the move onto the pool deck as a successful coach, Bunten was a four year standout at Charter Oak High School. Bunten was named 1st team All-League and 3rd team All-CIF during his time with the Chargers. After graduation Bunten moved on to UC Riverside where he played with the club water polo team for two seasons.
Bunten resides in Pomona with his wife Maggie, son Dylan, and daughter Bella.