Bio

Matt Ustaszewski brings a wealth of knowledge to the Southwestern College aquatics program, with over 15 years of competitive swimming and 12 years of competitive coaching experience.

Ustaszewski attended Rocklin high school just outside of Sacramento, California. At Rocklin, he excelled as a team captain in three varsity sports. In 1999, he earned Rocklin high school’s male athlete of the year award and all-american honors in water polo. He still holds records for goals scored in a game, season and a career.

After graduating from Rocklin, Ustaszewski attended Sierra community college where he was named all-american in both water polo and swimming. He set multiple school records in both sports and still holds records for goals scored in a game, season and a career.

In 2001, Ustaszewski transferred to the University of California, San Diego where he played water polo for coach Denny Harper. In 2003, he was elected team captain and finished third on the team with 45 goals scored. During his time at UCSD, a Division II non scholarship program competing against Division I scholarship programs, the Tritons ended the season ranked fifth in the nation. They beat perennial powers USC, UCI, UCSB, Pepperdine, Long Beach State and UOP. In 2002, the Tritons won their 13th Western Water Polo Association championship and qualified for the NCAA Final Four. Ustaszewski graduated from UCSD with a 3.2 GPA and a degree in history and political science in 2004.

Ustaszewski is currently the men’s assistant water polo coach at the University of California, San Diego. Prior to his return back to UCSD, he served as the Jaguars' head men's water polo coach for four seasons. In 2007 and 2009, he was awarded the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. He earned his teaching credential in Social Studies from San Diego State in 2007 and is currently pursuing his Masters of Science in physical education at Azusa Pacific University. He has coached for the Rocklin Wave, the Sierra Marlins and Heartland Swim Association as well as La Jolla Water Polo Club and Sunset San Diego Water Polo Club.

Ustaszewski is excited about the opportunities to work with the development and transitioning of high school swimmers into collegiate athletes. As a former community college athlete and a current collegiate coach, Ustaszewski understands how difficult the recruiting process to a four year university can be. His first goal of every swim season is to help each student-athlete transfer to a four year university to get their degree.