Water Sports - 1998

Stu Blumkin has been one of Southern California’s athlete-coach water sports icons since the 1960s.

Blumkin was an NCAA Division II swimming All-America in six events at Cal State Northridge during 1970-1971. A top scorer and defensive water polo star, he was small college water polo All-America and first team All-Conference in 1969 and 1970. His teammates voted him MVP in 1969 and 1970.

At Santa Monica Community College, Blumkin was a swimming All-America in 1968 and 1969 (breaststroke and relay events); and water polo first team All-Conference in 1967 and 1968. He was voted MVP both years. Opponents’ coaches named him to the All-Southern California Team both years.

In 1969, and again in 1973, Blumkin won gold medals as a member of the USA World Maccabiah Games Water Polo Team.

As a Beverly Hills High School student, Stu was All-League in both water polo and swimming. Beverly High inducted him into its school Hall of Fame.

Blumkin’s coaching record equals, perhaps even surpasses his extraordinary competitive achievements. As a coach at Santa Monica College, Santa Monica High School and Beverly Hills High School, 91 men and 61 women water-sports athletes have attained All-America status under Blumkin’s tutelage. He has been named conference “Coach of the Year” four times.

In water polo at SMCC, 1979-1993, his teams won the Western State Conference championship twice. From 1976-1994, either as head swimming coach or assistant coach (to John Joseph), the Santa Monica swim programs (men and women) produced twelve undefeated seasons. His swimmers won four California State championships and finished in the State’s Top Ten seventeen times--including 10 times in the top five. In dual meets, his men’s teams had a 145-20 record, and his women’s teams were 110-25.