Bio

Eric Ploessel has led the women's water polo program for the last 20 seasons and has spent 15 seasons as the men's coach in the fall. He has 392 combined wins while leading both programs. In 2023, he surpassed 200 victories with the women's water polo team.

In his second season as the women's head coach, Ploessel led the Panthers to their second consecutive 17-win season and a fourth place finish at the Collegiate III Championships.  

Ploessel led the Panthers to a fourth-place finish in the highly competitive SCIAC in 2015 and 2016, posting a winning record in conference play in 2015. He has coached 54 All-Americans and 13 All-SCIAC selections. 

Ploessel began his tenure as head men's coach in 2007 and has since guided the Panthers to their first of four consecutive appearances in the WWPA championships in 16 years in 2008, including hosting the championship tournament in '09. On the women's side, the Panthers led the nation in team GPA in 2009 with a 3.42 mark for the first time ever. Both of Chapman's men's and women's programs are consistently ranked among the top-10 in NCAA Division III.

The son of long-time aquatics director Dennis Ploessel, Eric became Chapman's head women's water polo coach in spring 2004 and helped guide the Panthers to their first top-10 national ranking in school history with a 17-13 record. In 2005, Chapman ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation and qualified for the Collegiate III Championhips for the first time ever and finished fourth in the tournament. Ploessel's athletes have also excelled outside of the water as Chapman ranked No. 5 in the nation in team GPA in 2006 with a 3.33 mark.

Prior to becoming head coach of the women, Eric served as men's and women's assistant coach for three seasons.Hec played collegiately at Long Beach State from 1995-98, scoring 58 career points, including a career-high 20 as a senior. He once notched five goals in an overtime win versus U.C. San Diego.