Water Polo Announces Staff Changes; Tragitt Named Associate Head Coach & Schroeder Transitions to Senior Advisor

MALIBU, Calif. – Pepperdine water polo head coach Merrill Moses has announced a pair of staff changes ahead of the 2025 campaign. Terry Schroeder will transition into the role of senior advisor following 32 total seasons with the program including 31 as head coach. In addition, Mike Tragitt has been elevated to Associate Head Coach having been on staff for 12 seasons including the past nine as assistant coach.

The Waves posted a 143-77 overall record in the eight seasons with Tragitt as assistant coach including seven campaigns with a winning record. In his previous 11 seasons total on staff, the Waves have finished in top-13 in the final CWPA rankings in all 11 years. Tragitt was a four-year letterwinner with the Waves from 2010-2013 and joined the staff the following year before being named an assistant coach ahead of the 2017 season. Pepperdine has had a pair of 25-plus win seasons during his tenure including the 2019 campaign which saw the Waves win the Gold Coast Conference and reach the NCAA semifinals.

“I’m incredibly appreciative of the trust and support that Merrill and Terry have given me within this program since beginning my coaching career,” said Tragitt. “Pepperdine is an incredibly special place, and I am honored and proud to continue to work and impact the best players in the country.”

“I am very excited to announce the elevation of Coach Mike Tragitt to Associate Head Coach,” said head coach Merrill Moses. “He has been on our coaching staff for 12 years and has been an integral part of our team’s success in and out of the water throughout his coaching career. He understands and promotes the core values and goals that our program and University represent every day. He is a tremendous tactician and recruiter and is going to continue to help elevate our program to compete for Conference Championships and National Championships.”

Schroeder is a legendary figure in American water polo, widely regarded as one of the greatest players and coaches in the sport’s history. A two-time Olympic silver medalist as a player (1984, 1988) and team captain for the U.S. squad, Schroeder went on to become the head coach at Pepperdine from 1986-2005, where he led the Waves to the 1997 NCAA Championship. He then served as head coach of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Water Polo Team at the 2008 Beijing Games, where his squad captured the silver medal, and again at the 2012 London Games. Schroeder then returned to Malibu in 2013 to resume his role as head coach of the program and transitioned to Associate Head Coach following the 2023 campaign. In his 31 total seasons as head coach of the Waves, Schroeder amassed a 508-345 record while reaching the NCAA Tournament on nine occasions. 

“I am excited to announce Coach Terry Schroeder‘s new role as Senior Advisor for Pepperdine Water Polo,” said Moses.  Coach Schroeder is going into his 33rd season for Pepperdine Water Polo and he has guided this program to great successes throughout his coaching career with his experience and knowledge of the game. I would not have been the player that I became without Coach Schroeder’s coaching and belief in me and my skills. I also would not be the coach I am today without his guidance and mentorship. He is going to help advise our coaching staff with his tremendous experience and knowledge that he has gained throughout his years of coaching. With his new role he will also help continue to build our alumni relations and focus on helping our team with our fundraising goals so we can compete at the highest level.”

Pepperdine was recently selected at No. 7 in the CWPA Preseason Poll and No. 2 in the WCC Preseason Poll ahead of the 2025 campaign. The Waves open the season this weekend at the Triton Invite hosted by UC San Diego with matchups against No. 20 Navy and Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday to begin the season.

ABOUT PEPPERDINE WATER POLO

Pepperdine water polo has seen success spanning decades under Terry Schroeder who gave the reins to Merrill Moses following the 2023 season. Highlighted by its national championship in 1997 with Moses as the starting goalie, the Waves have reached the NCAA Tournament on 13 occasions and recently won the inaugural WCC Regular Season Championship in 2023. Overall, the program has seen 60 athletes garner All-American honors while boasting a winning record in 36 of 50 seasons.

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