WHITTIER, Calif. (May 26, 2026) – Jeff Natalizio has been selected as the next Head Coach of the Whittier College men's and women's swimming & diving teams.
Natalizio, who has been operating as the program's interim head coach since March 2026, originally joined the Poets in July 2024 as the full-time assistant to former University of California, Berkeley college teammate Michael Jafari. Along with Jafari, Natalizio helped take the Poets' swimming & diving programs to the next level, culminating in a historic 2025-26 season. This past year, Jafari, Natalizio and their staff produced the SCIAC Male Swimmer of the Year in Honza Zika, finished fifth on the men's side at the conference championship meet and were named SCIAC Male Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts.
The Whittier men's team then advanced to the NCAA Division III National Championships, resulting in an equally historic week where the Poets closed the season outscoring SCIAC runner-up Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on the national stage.
With Jafari stepping down as head coach at the conclusion of the meet, Natalizio, who has been operating as the interim head coach since March, will look to double down on the swimming & diving program's incredible momentum and take the Poets to the next level.
"I'm very excited to continue to grow the swimming & diving program here at Whittier, all while protecting our identity as a program that prioritizes student-athlete development over individual athletic accomplishments," Natalizio said. "I originally accepted the assistant coach position because I felt the drive of the institution from the President down to the Athletic Director to grow by supporting its staff and students. It's the proof of that that makes me confident in accepting this new role."
Prior to joining the Poets, "Coach Zio" coached the Southern California club team "Evolution Racing Club" to historic finishes over nine years at the helm. Those teams developed talented swimmers such as Harvard University's David Schmitt and Cal's Humberto Najera, both of whom joined the National Junior Team roster in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Natalizio's club teams have also finished in the Top 10 at Winter Junior Nationals in 2022 and 2023 and at Summer Junior Nationals in 2023.
Natalizio's strength and conditioning background should continue to be an asset to the Purple & Gold. The veteran coach has held a CSCS certification (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) since 2013 and used his expertise to help another Cal graduate, Anthony Ervin, to a gold-medal finish in the 50 Free at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
