Brenda Villa entered her first season as Stanford women's water polo associate head coach in 2026 after her appointment was announced in August 2025. A Stanford alumna and one of the sport's most accomplished players, she helped the Cardinal win its first NCAA title in 2002 and was a three-time All-American, ACWPC Player of the Year, Cutino Award winner, Pac-12 Player of the Century, and Stanford Athletics Hall of Fame inductee.
Villa is one of the few four-time Olympic medalists in water polo and won 20 medals with Team USA across Olympic, World Championship, Pan American, World Cup, and World League competition. Her coaching career includes Orange Lutheran High School, Cerritos College, Castilleja School, Team USA U16 work, and community aquatics advocacy through Project 2020 and the Brenda Villa Foundation.
