Huntington Beach, Calif. – Scott Taylor, head coach of the Golden West College Men's Water Polo team, has been named the Orange Empire Conference (OEC), Southern California Regional, and 3C2A State Coach of the Year after leading his team to an outstanding 2024 season. Under Taylor's guidance, the Golden West College Rustlers achieved a remarkable overall record of 37-4, a perfect 6-0 in conference play, and won their eighth consecutive 3C2A State Championship. The second longest streak since the Rustlers rattled off nine straight from 1989 - 1997. 

The 2024 season marked a historic campaign for the Golden West College men's water polo team, as the Rustlers finished the year with a .902 win percentage, winning 37 of their 41 games. The team's dominance was particularly evident at home, where they went a perfect 12-0, and in neutral-site tournaments, where they posted an impressive 20-2 record.

Taylor's leadership was instrumental in the team's success, from their explosive offense to their solid defense. The Rustlers led the state in goals scored with 624, tied for 5th in averaging 15.22 goals per game on an impressive shooting percentage of 55.8%. The team's well-rounded play and consistent performance were hallmarks of their championship run.

Throughout the season, Taylor's squad demonstrated resilience and teamwork, highlighted by several key victories in the postseason. The Rustlers triumphed in the SoCal Regional Championship with a hard-fought 12-10 win over Orange Coast, before advancing to the State Championship, where they ultimately claimed the title with a thrilling 15-12 victory over West Valley in the final.

This season championship marked their 31st State Championship for the program and in the last 16 seasons, Taylor has led the team to 13 state titles, including 10 of the last 12 championships, with an astounding 651-48 record (.931 winning percentage).