Jens Cole named Biola men's water polo head coach
LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola University is pleased to announce Jens Cole as its new Head Men's Water Polo Coach. Cole begins his appointment as Biola's second men's water polo coach in mid-June, taking over for the retiring founding coach, Rick Nordell.
"We look forward to the future of our men's water polo program under the leadership of coach Jens Cole. He is passionate, focused, visionary, and has a history of impactful influence in the lives and faith of his former athletes and peers," said Dr. Bethany Miller, Associate Vice President and Senior Director of Athletics. "Coach Rick Nordell and his staff have built a special program here at Biola, and I am confident coach Cole will continue to build on this strong foundation in a way that celebrates and elevates whole-person development in this elite program."
Cole comes to Biola after most recently serving as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's water polo teams at CSU Fullerton. He played collegiate water polo at Pepperdine University from 2014 - 2019, learning under water polo icon Dr. Terry Schroeder.
"I look forward to carrying this torch forward with an immense sense of responsibility," said Cole. "I have an eagerness to elevate, challenge, and support these young men with an elite standard of excellence - spiritually, academically, athletically, and in our service to the community and the sport as a whole.
His coaching experience includes the brief time at CSUF, as well as program head duties at Westlake High School, where he had a tremendous four-year run to lead the team from a CIFSS DIII program in 2020 to CIFSS D1 status by 2023. His boys team won two tournament titles and nearly 80 matches during his time at the helm, including three consecutive 20-win seasons
Additionally, he is active in the club water polo space, where he's held positions at South Coast Aquatics and SET Water Polo. His time at South Coast began when he played for the club and won a Junior Olympics gold medal. He also contributes as part of the coaching staff for the Olympic Development Program (ODP), formerly with the Coastal Zone and currently with the Southern Pacific (SPA) Zone. Most recently, he helped the team win the 2025 Youth Boys ODP National Championship as an assistant coach.
Cole is originally from Malibu, California, where he played his high school water polo for Malibu High School. He was a varsity player all four years and set the school's assist record during his time on the squad. He was an all-county, all-Southern California, all-league first team player, team MVP and led his school to three league championships. He accomplished this while earning membership in the California Scholarship Federation and making the honor roll.
At Pepperdine, he studied Political Science and he then went on to get a master's degree in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has additional training and certifications in the field of life and mental performance coaching.
"I can't wait to establish Biola Men's Water Polo as a landing spot for the most dynamic, faithful, intelligent, and talented water polo student-athletes," said Cole. "Our goal is to be Great for God, and I am extremely excited to see all that these great young men can accomplish, representing their faith, their families, and their university."
Cole will join the Biola community alongside his wife, Kelli. Be on the lookout for the Eagles to build off a great foundation and begin this new era on the pool deck in September 2025.
"I cannot overstate the gratitude I have for head coach Rick Nordell and the legacy he has built in his stewardship of this Biola Men's Water Polo program," said Neil Morgan, sport supervisor and associate athletic director. "I am also immensely confident in the future of the program under the leadership of coach Jens Cole. His intentionality to building strong culture, and the clarity of his vision for the men who come into his care is top notch."