UNSW Wests Water Polo Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Shannan Johansen as our new Junior Men’s Coordinator.

Johansen is one of the country’s most experienced water polo mentors. His involvement in the sport spans more than three decades and covers grassroots, state, national and international programs. His career has included head‑coach roles with the Sydney Northern Beaches Breakers (2022‑2025), where he led the male U18 programs and oversaw talent development for U16 athletes, and an extensive tenure with Water Polo NSW (2009‑2023) coaching state teams across U13, U14, U16 and U17 divisions. Under his guidance, state squads have captured multiple national titles. He has also served as assistant coach for the NSW Talent Squad Men’s U19 program and the Australian Open Men’s team.

Johansen’s international credentials include leading the Water Polo NSW squad at the Pan Pacific tournament, coaching junior male and female teams at the Hawaiian International Tournament (U16 women’s division gold), guiding Lake Macquarie’s U16 boys at the International Children’s Games (2014), and serving as U16 boys coach for Sydney University at the Singapore Invitational (2016‑2018).

Locally he has a long association with UNSW Wests, having previously coached our U16 and U18 squads (2019‑2022) with a focus on technical skill development and competitive performance. This dedication to our club was recognised when he was awarded Best Clubman at the 2022 UNSW Wests Presentation Night.

His track record of developing athletes extends to roles with Sydney University’s U16 program, the Hunter Academy of Sport (founding program director) and Lake Macquarie Water Polo Club. Professionally, Johansen holds High‑Performance coaching qualifications, is a referee assessor and head selector, and continually upskills—completing all available Water Polo Australia coaching modules up to Elite High‑Performance Level. He was invited to the National Age Group Program (NAGP) U16 men’s camp ahead of the European World Championships and attended the Australian men’s Olympic team training camp, highlighting his recognition at the national level.

In his new role as Junior Men’s Coordinator, Johansen will oversee the development pathway for boys from U12 to U18. His extensive experience in program design and implementation and his passion for nurturing young athletes align perfectly with our club’s goals. He will work closely with our coaches to deliver age‑appropriate training programs, talent identification and mentorship, while promoting safe and healthy athlete development. Johansen’s appointment underscores UNSW Wests’ commitment to providing world‑class coaching and pathways that enable our juniors to thrive both as players and as people.

Please join us in welcoming Shannan back to the Magpies family. We look forward to the energy, knowledge and leadership he will bring to our junior men’s program and to the broader club.