In 2006, Hayden Goldberg said he was unsure of what direction he wanted to take his life.
The former Malibu High School (MHS) standout swimmer and water polo player went to his high school coach, Mike Mulligan, for advice.
Goldberg said the Sharks head coach gave him an opportunity to stay in the sport he loved.
“I was playing water polo in college, but school really wasn’t my thing,” Goldberg said. “I went to ask him what to do in my situation, and he said, ‘Well, we have a coaching job open.’ That’s how it started.”
A decade later, 30-year-old Goldberg has been named the Tri-Valley League Coach of the Year. The recognition comes after the Class of 2004 graduate helmed the MHS girls water polo team to a 20-9 record and an appearance in the CIF semi-finals on Feb. 24.
Goldberg said being named the league’s top girls water polo coach for the first time was awesome and something he had been striving for.
“It has been a dream,” the third-year head coach said. “I’ve always looked up to my role model, Coach Mulligan — he has had a couple coach- of-the-year titles. I have always watched how humbly he has accepted that. It’s cool to have one. I have worked hard.”
Mulligan said Goldberg has a lot of skills that make him a good coach, including being calming, reassuring, a great strategist and relatable to his players.
“I see many more honors for Hayden as he continues to rise in the coaching ranks,” Mulligan shared. “Hayden works very hard and puts his heart and soul into his coaching. It is great to see him get rewarded for that work.”
Goldberg said the honor is due to the success his squad had in the pool during the four-month season, which ended one game short of a berth in the CIF title game.
“We had an insane season,” Goldberg said. “The girls were taking in what I was coaching them. The talent was there.”
Goldberg was not alone in swimming into the offseason with some recognition. Sharks player Gaia Hinds was named to the All-CIFSS Division VII and Tri-Valley League first-teams. Teammates Sophie Spivack and Alexa Mora were named to the All-CIFSS Division VII second-team. Spivack was also named to the Tri-Valley League first-team, while Mora and Annie Armitage were named to the second-team. Zoe Detweiler and Rayna Ney were honorable mentions in Tri-Valley League.
Goldberg’s journey from excelling in the MHS pool to barking directions and plays on the sideline included being an assistant coach for the boys and girls water polo teams and coaching youth water polo programs.
He played water polo at Ventura College after graduating high school, but returned to MHS in 2006 when Mulligan offered him a job on the sideline.
Mulligan said he offered his former player a job because of Goldberg’s enthusiasm, willingness to learn and positive attitude.
“Plus, I had seen him play for years and knew he was a natural leader and that the players looked up to him,” Mulligan said.
Excluding a brief hiatus, Goldberg has been boys team assistant coach since 2006. He was an assistant coach with the girls team, too. He coached youth water polo with the City of Malibu for several years, beginning in 2005. He is also a lifeguard at MHS.
The former standout athlete was named the girls water polo head coach going into the 2013-14 season. Goldberg said he was excited for the opportunity.
“It is a chance to direct a program,” he said. “I have the chance to mold every single one of these girls.”
Mulligan said Goldberg’s transition from player to coach was difficult at first because initially he was only one or two years older than players on the team.
“As time went by, Hayden was able to find that line where the players respected him as coach first, but kept a friendship as well,” Mulligan said. “That is what makes him such a good coach. He treats everyone fairly.”
Goldberg acknowledged the adjustment from player to coach, but said his admiration of water polo made it easy.
“I love just seeing the kids click and helping them get better,” he said. “Coaching is something I want to do for the rest of my life.”