Claire Linney

Biography

Former Bronco team captain and MVP Claire Linney is entering her fifth season at the helm of the Santa Clara women's water polo program in 2025-26. Linney spent eight seasons as an assistant coach for the Broncos' men's water polo program and seven with the women's program, serving under head coach Keith Wilbur. She was elevated to head women's coach in September 2021. In her first four seasons as head coach, Linney has guided the Broncos to 31 overall victories, with wins in Golden Coast Conference play each season from 2022-24. That includes Santa Clara's first 10-win season in five years in 2023. Under her leadership, four Broncos have collected a total of five all-GCC awards in four years. Linney has also raised the level of the Broncos' success in the classroom, with Santa Clara having a record 17 student-athletes named to the 2024 GCC All-Academic Team. The native of Watsonville, California, served as assistant coach at Cal State Monterey Bay from 2010-12, helping the team to its best-ever finish in the Western Water Polo Association. She also served as head varsity boys coach at Salinas High School. As a senior at Santa Clara, Linney was team captain and MVP, and the Broncos made it to the WWPA Championship game. She graduated from Santa Clara in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.