Keith Ryan – Head Coach

Keith Ryan joined CMAC in December 2017 as the Lead 10 & Under Coach and was named Head Coach in August 2018. An ASCA Level 4 Certified Coach, Keith brings more than 20 years of coaching experience, developing athletes from their first competitive races through NCAA competition and national-level swimming.

Keith earned his B.A. in Psychology from UC Irvine and his M.S. in Counseling from California State University, Long Beach. He lives in Huntington Beach with his wife, Aleah, an LCSW, and their children, Kamilah and Zain, who both proudly swim for CMAC.

Throughout his career, Keith has built successful programs at every level of the sport. As Head Coach at Edison High School (2005–2013), he guided the Chargers to a remarkable 120-4 dual meet record and the program’s first CIF Championship in 2009. Since 2020, he has served as Head Coach at Costa Mesa High School, leading the Mustang boys to the school’s first CIF Championships (Division 3 in 2023 and Division 2 in 2024) and the Mustang girls to their first CIF Championship in 2026.

Keith has also been a longtime member of the Orange Coast College coaching staff, helping the Pirates capture numerous conference and state championships. Additional coaching experience includes leadership roles with the Sonoma Sea Dragons and Sonoma Valley High School, as well as assistant coaching positions with Lakewood Aquatics and Whittier College.

Keith believes great teams are built through consistent effort, technical excellence, personal accountability, and a culture where every swimmer is known, valued, and challenged to become the best version of themselves. The sense of camaraderie found in the nation’s strongest high school and collegiate programs is something he strives to weave into the fabric of CMAC every day.

Under Keith’s leadership, CMAC has grown to more than 300 swimmers, consistently ranks among the region’s top championship teams, and has developed athletes competing at the Sectionals, Futures, Junior National, collegiate, national, and international levels.

Away from the pool, Keith and Aleah remain active competitors in Masters swimming and water polo and are multi-time Ironman finishers. Their extended family has a long tradition of athletic excellence, including NCAA Division I athletes, national team members, Olympic competitors, and lifelong endurance athletes.

John comes to CMAC with 40 years of aquatics experience as a competitor and coach. 

Early Years:

Club Swimming - Pico Rivera Swim Team 9 years

High School - 3 years Varsity Water Polo & Swimming, 2 year Varsity Track & Field

College - 4-year Starter Water Polo; 2 -Seasons Swimming

Biggest Biggest Sports Achievements:

Athlete-of-the-Year High School ( Varsity letters in Water Polo, Swimming and Track & Field eight times)

NCAA Division II Player-of-the-Year - Water Polo

D-II National 100 Fr cut

Coaching Experience:

Cal State LA - Assistant Coach Mens Water Polo & Womens swimming 1981 - 1982

Golden West Swim Club - Assistant Coach - Masters group 1993 - 1996

Long Beach Shore Aquatics - Assistant Coach & Head Coach - Multiple Levels 1996 - 1997

Seal Beach Swim Club - Lead Assistant Coach 1997 - 2001

Lakewood Aquatics - Assistant Swim Coach - Senior Group 2014 - 2016

Coastal Machine Aquatics Club 2021 - Present

Being a long-time athlete in multiple sports, as well as pursuing a degree in the health field. Training and competing has always been a big part of his life. "It's a lifestyle" Coach John developed a fondness for coaching competitive swimming while his daughters swam competitively in the Orange County area. Coach John currently lives in Huntington Beach. He is thrilled to be at CMAC coaching alongside talented coaches and coaching, deveoping and mentoring CMAC swimmers.

Coach Annie is returning to her coaching roots as CMAC's next Head Age Group Coach.

Coach Josh swam competitively from 8u through high school in land-locked Northeastern Pennsylvania before swimming for Drexel University. He has a life-long love of aquatics including carrying certifications for lifeguarding and lifeguard instruction through much of his adult life. Josh has coached several years at the age group, summer league and club level. After finding himself with extra free time once his daughter left the sport of polo, he resumed his coaching career with the Green Valley Dolphins for a few seasons before joining CMAC. His daughter was a polo player for CMAC for 6 years and he brings with his experience a love for this program and it's emphasis on teammwork, sportsmanship attention to detail. 

This coach is awesome!

Coach De La Jara is a long term resident of Costa Mesa and has strong ties to both Costa Mesa HS and Estancia HS.

Coach De La Jara played water polo and swam for Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. After high school, he enrolled at Orange Coast College in which he competed in water polo and swimming for the Pirates. The year after, he transferred to Golden West College in which he also competed in water polo and swimming for the Rustlers.

After Junior College, Coach De La Jara transferred to Cal State Long Beach and played at Long Beach for a short time. Due to injury he took to coaching. His coaching career began:

• 1995-1997 Estancia HS Asst Coach
• 1997-1999 UCI Womens Club Water Polo Head Coach
• 2000 to 2010 Masters Organizer and Enthusiast
• 2007 USA WATERPOLO REFERRE
• 2011 YMCA Splashball COACH YMCA Newport Beach
• 2011-2014 FINA Referee
• 2012 Costa Mesa Aquatics Club Director and Splashball Coach
• 2013 Holiday Camp Referee
• 2014 Costa Mesa High School Foundation, Director

Coach De La Jara's goal for CMAC is to grow a strong program based in athletic, personal and career success for all members. Coach De La Jara is married and has 3 kids that participate in CMACs age group swim and Water Polo programs. Coach De La Jara is also a veteran Newport Beach Lifeguard with over 20+ years, saving lifes and educating kids and beachgowers about Beach Safety. He enjoys bodysurfing, surfing, stand up paddling, swimming, water polo and spending time with friends and family.

This coach is awesome!

This coach is awesome!

Coach Jeena is a former competitive swimmer with 15 years in the sport, a current US Masters swimmer, and coached and taught swimming lessons in the area in various capacities throughout the years. After a brief hiatus, she is excited to be back on the pool deck fostering a love of the water and competition amongst her swimmers,

This coach is awesome!

This coach is awesome!

This coach is awesome!

Communications Coordinator