Grant Water Polo

Gary Muzzy and his wife Melissa and 6 kids live in Damascus, Oregon. Gary fell in love with swimming at a young age. Between ages 9-12, Gary swam for the Parkrose Swim Club under a great coach named Burt Peterson before moving over to the David Douglas Swim Club and continuing to swim there until age 18 under Burt Stratton and John DeRoest. 

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Gary's coaching career started in 2004 with the Parkrose Water Polo Club, which he and his sister Brittany founded. In 2005, Gary started coaching at Parkrose High School as an assistant water polo coach. In 2006, he became the girls' team head coach and that year the team finished first in state for 5A! In 2007, Gary assumed the head coach position for the boys' team, too. Over the years Gary has led his team to multiple 5A state championships, while also receiving the MHC coach of the year award a handful of times. 

 

The year 2007 also marked Gary's first year as assistant swim coach for Parkrose High School.  By 2008, Gary was co-coaching the high school swim team and sent two kids to state in individual events and five kids to state on relay teams.

 

In 2009 the Parkrose Water Polo Club turned into the Blue Crush Aquatic Club and Gary assumed the role of head coach for both the swim and water polo teams. 

 

Gary's coaching philosophy is born from the position of wanting each swimmer and polo player to love the sport for life. He will push athletes--to an appropriate extent--and understands the ebb and flow of the sport and the kids' participating therein. Gary rewards swimmers and polo players showing intense motivation and dedication with his time and encouragement, cheering on the successes they've worked to achieve.