Lava Bear Coaches

Jesse Hatch has been playing Water Polo and coaching for over 20 years. Originally a football player, he decided to switch to Water Polo his junior year at Helix High School in San Diego, CA. Jesse later went on to play water polo at UC Irvine in Orange County, CA. Following college, he signed contracts to play water polo in Athens, Greece and Chiavari, Italy. After a brief stint as an Ocean Lifeguard in Newport Beach, Jesse picked up coaching club water polo with Back Bay WPC, focusing on 12U boys and 14U girls teams. During this time, he also coached at the High School level with University HS Girls Water Polo as well as Sage Hill HS Swimming in Irvine, CA. 

Since moving to Oregon in 2020 Jesse has coached with Bend Waves intermittently and Bend Sr. HS Girls Water Polo. This will be Jesse’s fourth official season as Head Coach for Bend Sr. High School.

Michael Bird started playing water polo over 20 years ago in Lodi, California. When his family moved to Central Oregon, there was no club or high school water polo to join. The Bird family was instrumental in the founding of water polo in Bend. 

Michael is honored to coach the Lava Bears as an alumnus of Bend High Water Polo, graduating in 2013. Michael was a team captain all four years of his high school career, and earned 2nd Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-Conference, and Conference MVP his freshman through junior years. His playing career was cut short due to a back injury his senior year and he remained a part of the team as an unofficial player-coach. Michael would continue to serve as assistant coach for the following two years. 

Michael is eager to return to Bend High as the boys’ head coach. Go Bears!

Tia grew up in Newberg, Oregon, where she played water polo since she was 7. Her high school team won two 6A Oregon State Championships, and then she played club polo at Oregon State University. This will be Tia's second season helping coach Bend High Watere Polo.

Tia moved to Bend in 2022 to work for Deschutes County Health Services. She's loving living, hiking, paddle boarding and exploring Central Oregon with her boyfriend and her dog, Smokey. 

She's so excited to be coaching the Bend High Girls Water Polo Team!”

Andy played water polo and did swimming alongside head coach Michael Bird for four years at Bend High School graduating in 2013. He played with his two brothers and many other close friends who have remained great friends to this day. Andy captained both water polo and swimming teams his senior year and is passionate about giving back to Bend High. 

Since moving back to Bend in 2018 after graduating with his Chemical Engineering degree, Andy has enjoyed working for Cascade Lakes Brewing Company and reintegrating with the community. Outside of work Andy enjoys trail running, biking, and being outside with friends.