CT Premier Water Polo Club
Our Coaches
Scott Schulte – Executive Director, CT Premier Water Polo Club, NYAC Men’s Head Coach
Scott brings his lifelong experience as a player, coach, and business professional to his role as Executive Director at CT Premier Water Polo Club. Scott started as a swimmer and water polo player at Montclair Kimberly Academy (MKA) in Montclair, NJ, where he was an All-American water polo player. He continued his academic and athletic pursuits at Bucknell University, where he led the Bison water polo team to 4 Eastern Championships and 4 NCAA tournament appearances, as well as being a 2-time Second Team All-American. During that time, he set the record for the most goals at NCAA tournaments (50) and set the all-time leading NCAA career scoring record (586 goals), records that still stand today.
At the national level, Scott was a member of the USA Water Polo Junior and Senior National teams from 1978 to 1983. He represented the USA at the World University Games (1981) where his team won the silver medal. He represented the EAST at 9 U.S. Olympic Festivals and is a 12-time First Team All-American and 6-time MVP at Indoor Nationals. He has been honored as an inductee into the MKA, NY Athletic Club (NYAC), Bucknell, Collegiate Water Polo Association, and USA Water Polo halls of fame.
Scott continued his involvement in water polo after his playing career as Head Coach of the NYAC Men’s team for 20 years, where his teams have won 14 Senior National Championships, five Fischer Cup Championships, and two National League Championships. He has coached numerous Olympians including Tony Azevedo, Adam Wright, Merrill Moses, John Mann, Jesse Smith, and Layne Baubien.
Professionally, Scott has spent 37 years in the finance industry and is the Founder/Principal of MFS Capital Advisors. He lives in New Canaan, CT with his wife Lisa and their daughter Madison. His three older children, Taylor, Devan, and Logan, all played varsity sports in college. Scott is a member of the USAWP NE Zone Board and is excited to take on the challenge of coaching age group water polo athletes and developing a new east coast water polo powerhouse.
Kade Ramirez-Zimmerman- coach
Kade was raised in the California where his love of the sport started at an early age of 8, playing for Ventura County Premier Club. The hard work of VCP earned them 1st placed at the USA water Polo Junior Olympics and 3rd, 5th and 13th respectively. Kade was selected to the Youth ODP National Team in High School and then went onto play for Iona College Div 1 water polo team, while Coaching Beach Water Polo in Malibu Beach, Ca in the summers.
After graduating from Iona College, Kade Joined the coaching staff at Greenwich Aquatics of Greenwich, CT where he focused on player development and team culture. Kade also privately trains athletes for ODP prep and College bound athletes by providing gameplay, strategy, and motivational feedback through film analysis. We are so thrilled to have Kade as a new member of our CT Premier Coaching team.
Jacob Karell- Coach
Jacob grew up playing for Chelsea Piers Aquatic Club Water Polo team from the age of 12 until 17. As Jacob's college Journey started he was then asked to join the CPAC coaching team, while I attending community college. His academic journey continued on to UCONN where he briefly played with the UCONN water polo club until the 2020 pandemic shut down the program. Since completing his coursework in the fall of 2021, Jacob has been coaching our boys & girls 14U, 12U, and 10U age-groups teams.
Sam Bass - Coach
Sam got his start playing at Roxbury Club before starting in the Greenwich WP House League in middle school. Sam was an integral part of one of the best classes in Greenwich High School history, and was one of the first players to train full time with our legacy program Chelsea Piers. Sam participated in two Junior Olympics trips in the 18U division and started coaching at Chelsea Piers Water Polo the following summer during his break from Bates College. He has been an active coach in the FCSL starting at the Tokeneke Club in 2017 and moving to the Rocky Point Club for the past four summers. In addition to his coaching work in the FCSL and at CT Premier, Sam has also been the GHS Boys Assistant Coach for the past three years.
Danilo Siera-Giraldo – Coach
Danilo started playing water polo at 12 years old for Club Belen, one of the best clubs in South America, and for the swimming league of Antioquia (a Colombian state). At 15, he was selected to play for the State of Antioquia 16U youth team which he played on for two years.
In 2010, Danilo moved to the United States and at that time there were not many opportunities to play water polo. His passion for the sport led him to coaching, he always wanted others to feel the same passion, joy and freedom that he felt when playing with his teammates.
Danilo started coaching at Staples High School (Westport CT), in the spring of 2014 with the Girls Water Polo Team, and in the fall took on coaching responsibilities for the Boys Team, head coaching positions he still holds. He continues to play water polo at the Masters level.
Danilo says “I am very excited to join the CT Premier Water Polo community. I’m always looking for ways to make the kids improve at the game while still enjoying the sport. I always try to share my knowledge and experience as a player, coach, and as a person so that they can feel the same passion that I have for this great sport. I feel proud knowing that I will have the opportunity to share my experiences, expand the popularity of water polo, and make young people have fun in a healthy and safe atmosphere.”
