Ryan Neapole enters his second year on The Farm after joining the staff as an assistant coach in January of 2024. Neapole is a former Princeton standout, and now coaches under Dunlevie Family Director of Men's Water Polo Brian Flacks, who also coached Neapole in high school.
In his first season on the staff in 2024, the Cardinal posted a 22-5 record and advanced to the NCAA Championship semifinal. In the semifinal, Stanford came up just short to eventual champion UCLA. The Card was one of just two teams to beat the No. 1 Bruins on the season, including an LA sweep in the regular season, winning at UCLA and at USC in the same weekend.
Neapole comes to Stanford after a strong playing career at Princeton. Neapole appeared in 98 career games, scoring 57 goals and tallying 95 assists. As a senior in 2022, the Los Angeles product appeared in every game, scoring 25 goals, adding 38 assists and 40 steals.
"I am beyond excited to join the coaching staff here at Stanford," said Neapole. "Getting to work with Brian Flacks and Matt Farmer is a true honor. Their passion for the sport and endless pursuit towards improvement is contagious. Equally compelling is the opportunity to work with the exceptional Stanford student athletes, a group whose drive and dedication both in and out of the pool is inspiring."
Neapole was a two-time ACWPC All-Academic and CWPA Scholar Athlete Team selection, as well as an NWPC All-Tournament First Team honoree in 2022. Neapole played for Flacks at the prep level at Harvard-Westlake, where he was named 2018 CIF SS Divsion I Player of the Year.