 Felix Mercado |
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Felix Mercado was hired in the summer of 2007 as Brown's new
men's and women's water polo coach. Mercado spent the two seasons
prior to coming to Brown at the helm of the MIT men's varsity and
women's club teams after one year as an assistant.
Mercado enjoyed a banner year in 2009 as the Brown men's water polo
team won a Northern Division Championship and the women's team
claimed an Eastern College Association Conference (ECAC)
Championship. Mercado was honored by the Collegiate Water Polo
Association as the Northern Division Coach of the Year for his
third consecutive year, earning the honor from 2007-2009.
In 2006, he was named CWPA Division III and CWPA Northern Division
Coach of the Year after leading MIT's men's team to a second-place
finish at the Division III Eastern Championship and the team's
third-ever appearance at the Division I Eastern Championship. He
posted a 26-34 record in Cambridge, as the Engineers attempted to
integrate 12 freshmen into the program in 2006 after a 15-14 record
in 2005.
In two years as the coach of the MIT club women's team, Mercado's
squads posted a 30-3 record, making back-to-back appearances at the
Club National Championships. He was named the North Atlantic
Conference Coach of the Year in 2007. Mercado also served as an
assistant coach at Hartwick College in the spring, as the Hawks
finished fifth at the NCAA Championship.
Before arriving in Cambridge, Mercado spent 11 years coaching at
Ransom Everglades School in Miami, Fla. During his tenure with
Ransom, Mercado helped guide his squad to three Florida State
Championships in the boys division and coached the girls program to
six straight Final Four finishes.
Mercado was also the head coach and founder of the Raider Water
Polo Club Foundation, and led the program to six Southeast Zone
Championships. He has also offered his coaching expertise at
numerous national team development campsfor USA Water Polo.
Mercado earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Administration Management from American Intercontinental University
in 2006. He also has an Associate of Arts degree in Secondary
Education from Miami Dade College.
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John McBride |
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Since joining the Brown water polo program in 2005, John McBride
has brought a wealth of coaching and playing experience to the
sidelines for the Bears.
McBride's connection to Brown water polo dates back to 1981,
when he started playing for the Little Rhody Aquatic Club in 1981
for former Brown Head Coach Ed Reed. McBride was the starting
goalkeeper for the University of Rhode Island from 1988 to 1992.
During his college career, the Rams won a New England title, and
finished as high as third place at the Eastern Champioships.
Individually, McBride was a three-time First Team All-New England
and one-time All Eastern goalie.
After graduating with a B.A. in Communications, McBride spent
one season as the men's head coach at URI before moving on to guard
the cage for the US National B team. He also participated as a
coach at the Junior National Selection Camps at the U.S. Olympic
Training Center. McBride became a police officer in North
Providence, R.I., but retired in 2004 to get back into water polo
as the assistant men's and women's coach at Brown.
