SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The student has become the teacher for UC Santa Barbara Women's Water Polo Head Coach Emma Myall, who announced on Friday that former Gaucho Imani Clemons will return to the pool deck as an assistant coach for the 2026 season. A 2025 graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Clemons is stepping into her first coaching role to round out the Gauchos' staff for 2026.
 
"Imani brings something super special to the team," Myall said. "She's been a Gaucho for four years, has experienced the team as a player and is ready to take on the role as a coach. She's a talented water polo player both physically and mentally, and she's someone who will always bring a positive outlook to a situation and uplift people around her. We're very excited to have her on staff and definitely excited for what's to come with her as a coach."
 
As a student-athlete, Clemons flourished under Myall's coaching in 2025, earning All-Big West Honorable Mention in her senior season for Santa Barbara. She was one of two 50-goal scorers on the team that year, making it the first season that a pair of Gauchos each tallied 50 or more in the same campaign since 2013. With over 100 games in Blue and Gold under her belt, she will now use her experience and knowledge of Myall's gameplan to help the next generation of Gauchos flourish. One member of that next generation is Morgan Hoffman, Clemons' heir-apparent at the center position. As a freshman playing behind Clemons in the 2025 season, Hoffman got off to a flying start, racking up 10 goals through her first five games. Clemons and the Gauchos will now aim to help Hoffman keep that pace up over a full season in 2026.
 
Santa Barbara also adds eight newcomers for next season, including another true center in freshman Miranda Salinger. The Gauchos will look to continue implementing Myall's approach and build on a season that saw them finish 16-13 overall and 2-5 in Big West play.