Kevin Kuga was born and raised in Goleta, CA and has been playing water polo since he was 12 years old. He began his water polo career in the UCSB campus pool as a member of the Santa Barbara Water Polo Club. His first coach was SBWPC’s very own Brian “Chuckie” Roth. Growing up in the SBWPC program, Kuga has also been coached by Joe O’brien and Wolf Wigo.
In 2006 Kuga helped lead the SBWPC 18 & under Boy’s to a 1st place finish at Junior Olympic Championships and he was named a 1st Team All-American.
Kuga graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 2006. During his tenure there he earned a varsity letter in Water Polo and Swimming all four years. His Junior and Senior years, Kuga led the Chargers to their 1st and 2nd CIF Water Polo Championships in 2004 and 2005. Both years he earn CIF Div. IV Co-Player of the Year and he was selected to the All-Southern California water polo first team and California-Hawaii All-America second team.
As a swimmer, Kuga helped the 2004 DP Swim team capture the school’s only Swimming CIF Div. I title by scoring the 2nd highest number of points for the team. In 2005 Kuga placed 2nd in the 100 yard Freestyle and 1st in the 50 yard Freestyle at CIF Div. I Championships, and took the titles for both events the next year in 2006 with times of 20.73 and 45.30. Kuga earned NISCA All-America honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Kuga attended UCLA and played for the Men’s Water Polo team from 2006 to 2010 (red shirted 2008 season due to elbow injury). As a member of the Bruins, Kuga helped his team bring home the 2009 MPSF Conference Championship as well as a 2nd place finish NCAA Championship that same year.
After graduating with a BA in Geography, Kuga returned to Santa Barbara and began his coaching career. He is currently a member of the Dos Pueblos Boy’s and Girl’s Water Polo teams coaching staff and he is the Head Coach of the Girl’s Swim Team.
This past year Kuga was a coach for the SBWPC 12 and 18 & under boys teams. As the Head Coach of the 12 & under boys he lead the team to a 6th place finish at Junior Olympics in Palo Alto.