SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State women's water polo has named Beth Harberts as head coach. She becomes the program's fourth head coach in the team's history.
"I'm excited to welcome Beth as our new head women's water polo coach," SJSU Director of Athletics Marie Tuite announced. "For the past few years, I've had the opportunity to watch Beth grow as our men's and women's assistant coach. She now has the opportunity to lead her own program and I'm thrilled both of our water polo teams will be able to practice and compete in the new Student Recreation Aquatic Center. The 2019-20 season should be an exceptional one for our women's water polo program."
In 2018-19, Harberts served as an assistant coach for the SJSU men's and women's programs. She first joined the coaching staff in 2015 as a volunteer assistant for the men's team.
A two-time All-American selection at SJSU, Harberts is one of the most accomplished women's water polo players in school history, finishing her career with 112 scores. Mentored by legendary former SJSU head water polo coach Lou Tully, she became just the seventh Spartan to score over 100 points in a career.
"I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be the head coach of the women's water polo program at San José State University," Harberts said. "I am excited to work with our athletics leadership team and student-athletes to establish stability through this transition and focus on academic and athletic success. My goal is to help reinforce the value of being a Spartan and focus on teamwork. Together, I believe the Spartans can achieve results that will positively contribute to individual growth and team success."
Harberts graduated with a bachelor's in kinesiology in 2007 and returned to SJSU for her master's in 2014.
Prior to joining the Spartans' coaching staff in 2015, she spent six seasons as the women's water polo head coach at West Valley College.
Harberts replaces Gabor Sarusi in the coaching role. Sarusi will make a jump over to the men's team where he will serve as associate head coach under fifth-year head coach Bruce Watson. He returns to the men's team for the first time since 2015 when he initially joined the Spartans as an assistant coach.
