Meet The Coaches

About

Adam Donovan has been involved with high school water polo and club water polo in Sacramento area for the last 20years.  Adam is the Head coach at Ponderosa High School and the club director for Gold Country Water Polo.   Adam has been coaching Ponderosa HS for 11 years, prior to that he had one year at Rio Linda HS and 9 years at Christian Bothers HS.  Adam has led Ponderosa to two section titles in 2021 & 2023.  In addition to his HS coaching, Adam has been involved with club coaching for just as long.  He has coached at Sac Polo, Cal Rep, and then started Gold County Water Polo in 2020 during Covid to service the El Dorado county area.  

In addition to coaching for many years in the area, Adam was a former collegiate player at American River College and at UC Davis.  He like to stay active with his family by skiing in the winter, and beach and lake time in the summer.  Adam lives in Rescue, CA and is excited about the direction Gold Country has taken and looks forward to its expansion with other surrounding high schools and its youth program. 

Quote: "I started Gold County because I saw a need for the youth and athletes of our area.  There were many water polo players who were driving between 30-45min to get to practice.  I wanted to provide a closer option and one that would encourage more local athletes to join.  I also wanted to introduce water polo to the youth in our community, give them a place to try the sport, learn the sport, without the cost and commitment of some of the other clubs" 

About

Reilley was raised in Shingle Springs, CA, and was introduced to water polo in 8th grade through Ponderosa High School’s feeder program. He then played at Ponderosa High School earning 3x All Conference, 3x All City, and 1x All Section First Team while leading the nation in scoring Senior year, finishing as Pondo’s all time leader in Assists and Steals. Played club polo with a brand new California Republic SC program in 2016-2018, as well as competing in the Olympic Development Program during that time. Following high school Reilley played at the NCAA Division 1 level at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. After returning home, he has continued to compete with Alumni Water Polo Club in high level Masters tournaments and leagues. 

Reilley began coaching at Ponderosa High School as the JV Boys head coach in the Summer of 2021, and the JV Boys have been undefeated in league play from 2021-2026. As an assistant with the Varsity Boys, Ponderosa has won two SJS (Section) titles during that span. He has coached the HS Boys age group for club polo from 2021 on, starting with California Republic, and now Gold Country as of 2025. 

A quote from Reilley: "I am thrilled to have seen the growth in our sport within my own community. I have been a part of water polo in El Dorado County as a player and now coach for 14 years. It is my mission to build on that growth by developing our athletes at the club and high school levels to reach the highest achievements possible individually, and most importantly as a team."

About

Alex has been involved in high school and club water polo in the El Dorado County area for several years. He played locally for California Republic Water Polo Club, Gold Country Water Polo Club, and Ponderosa High School, where he served as team captain and led his team to a sections championship his senior year. After graduating, Alex committed to California Lutheran University before a shoulder injury brought him back home, where he transitioned into coaching. He has coached at California Republic Water Polo Club (12U and 14U Head Coach) and Granite Bay High School (JV Boys Head Coach), and later returned to his alma mater, Ponderosa High School, where he led the JV boys team to an undefeated league season. In addition to his high school coaching experience, Alex has also been coaching with Gold Country Water Polo Club over the past year. Alex currently lives in Cameron Park, where he still enjoys playing water polo with a local masters team, snowboarding, and spending time with family and friends. 

About

Timmi has been a dedicated presence in the Sacramento-area aquatics community for several years, bringing a wealth of competitive experience and a passion for athlete development to the pool deck. Currently serving as a water polo coach & swim coach for Ponderosa High School.

Her journey in the water began as a standout multi-sport athlete. In high school, Timmi demonstrated her versatility and drive by competing in both boys' and girls' water polo, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the game's different paces and physical demands. This early immersion in the sport, as well as 10+ years in the club basketball landscape, laid the foundation for her transition to collegiate athletics at Hope International University (HIU), where she attended on a full-ride basketball scholarship. 

Having been a former student-athlete herself, Timmi has a unique connection to the community and a deep commitment to seeing local programs thrive. In addition to her work with the high school teams, as well as her work as an Analyst with the County of El Dorado, she also consistently works with the youth program, ensuring that both youth and high school players have the resources they need to succeed.

About

Riley Nelson is a dedicated water polo athlete and student currently finishing her second year at Chico State, where she is majoring in Exercise Physiology. With eight years of experience in the sport, Riley began her journey at CalRep in middle school and continued on to play for the Ponderosa High School team. She is currently competing at the collegiate level with Chico State. Her passion for water polo extends beyond competition, she has a deep love for the game and is committed to sharing that enthusiasm with the next generation. Riley is excited to help create a positive, engaging environment where young athletes can learn, grow, and develop the same appreciation for the sport that has shaped her own journey. 

About

Annabelle Gould is a new addition to the Gold Country coaching staff.  Annabelle graduated from El Dorado high School in 2025, after 4 years on the water polo team.  In addition to water polo, Annabelle was a competitive swimmer for 8 years.  Annabelle is attending Azusa Pacific in Southern California and plays for the collegiate water polo team.  Outside of the water, Annabelle grew up moving around with her father while he was in the military.  In addition to the pool, Annabelle loves the beach and spending time with friends and teammates.   

About

Josh is returning to Gold Country, now on the coaching staff. He brings 5 years of experience in competitive aquatics, including four years of high‑level high school water polo and one year of college play. In addition to his playing background, he has five years of experience coaching swim and has also spent time coaching youth water polo.

He is passionate about helping athletes develop strong fundamentals, build confidence, and find genuine enjoyment in the sport. Josh looks forward to another great season and is committed to supporting every athlete’s growth and success.