STANFORD, Calif. - Kayla Constandse will serve as Stanford's volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming season, becoming the latest familiar face to join the Cardinal coaching staff.
Constandse, a member of two NCAA championship teams during her four-year career from 2017-20, follows the recent hiring of assistant coach Kim Krueger, captain of Stanford's 2011 NCAA title squad and four-year letterwinner.
"Kayla combines great technical and tactical water polo knowledge with terrific teaching skill," said John Tanner, Stanford's Dunlevie Family Director of Women's Water Polo who enters his 26th season in 2023. "She is an inspiring coach who speaks with purpose and wisdom."
Constandse's playing career included a pair of NCAA titles (2017, 2019) and she was named a 2019 MPSF All-Academic selection while scoring 26 career goals. The Irvine, California, native graduated with a degree in Symbolic Systems.
"I could not be more excited to return to Stanford and help prepare the amazing women on our team while growing and developing as an educator," said Constandse. "I hope to continue to be an ambassador across our beautiful campus while using my skills, experience and passion to impact the communities I was a part of during my time on The Farm. The opportunity to collaborate with and learn from JT, Susan, and Kim every day motivates me to be the best educator I can be."
Prior to arriving back on campus, Constandse spent the last two seasons as a sixth-grade science teacher at KIPP Excelencia Community Prep in Redwood City as part of Teach For America.
Constandse is pursuing a masters degree in Policy, Organization, and Leadership Studies in Stanford's School of Education. Constandse played her senior season alongside sister, Hannah, then a freshman and now a senior on the Cardinal squad.