Men's Water Polo

Kai Ketcherside

Kai is a passionate and dedicated coach committed to developing athletes both in and out of the pool. She grew up playing all different sports but found water polo in high school. Straight out of school she went to Riverside City College for a season before transferring to Crafton to finish out her athletic career. She returned to her alma mater as a coach in 2022, initially as the Women's assistant coach. In 2024 she began her role as the head coach of the Men's program. She also leads the girls’ water polo program at Redlands High School.

In addition to serving as the head men’s water polo coach she is adjunct Kinesiology faculty at Crafton Hills College. With a Master of Science in Kinesiology from California Baptist University and a strong foundation in sports science and performance, she brings an evidence-based approach to coaching. Her coaching philosophy is shaped by years of academic research, hands-on training experience, and a genuine passion for growing the sport of water polo.

Email: kketcherside@craftonhills.edu 

Reese Starkey 

Reese Starkey brings extensive experience as both a player and coach to the Crafton Hills men’s water polo program. Starkey competed in water polo and swimming at Riverside City College, where he served as a team captain during his sophomore season. In 2022, he earned Second Team OEC honors in water polo and All-American recognition in swimming. After RCC, Starkey continued his water polo career at NCAA D1 Cal State Fullerton, where he received the Titan Spirit Award. He earned his B.A. in Cinema Production and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Screenwriting. Starkey has coached the Sand Canyon water polo club program since 2022, most recently leading the 18U boys' team to a third-place finish in the Gold Division. After serving as an assistant coach at Crafton Hills in 2025, Starkey now returns as a Co-Head Coach of the Roadrunners.