Aki Named GCC Coach of the Year Following Undefeated Conference Season and Tournament Title

LOS ANGELES – For the first time in his young career, LMU Women’s Water Polo Head Coach Ikaika Aki has been named Golden Coast Conference Coach of the Year.

This season, Aki guided his Lions back to the NCAA Championship after winning the GCC Tournament to close out the season. This is LMU’s GCC Tournament win since 2015 and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012.

The Lions posted their second consecutive undefeated season in conference play in 2025. Aki has now won 16 consecutive GCC regular season games and has not lost in conference play since his first season as Head Coach. In total, Ikaika has posted an incredible 20-1 record in conference, winning over 95 percent of his league games.

Aki helped mentor the back-to-back GCC Player of the Year in Ruth Arino Ruiz this season, as well as a total of four All-Conference selections including three First Team All-GCC members.

The season will continue for Aki and the Lions in Indianapolis this Friday for the First Round of the NCAA Tournament played at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis. The Lions will face 2-seed UCLA on Friday at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT.

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