Santa Fe Christian recently announced the return of alumni Graham Saber as head coach of the boys water polo team — a full circle moment for the former standout athlete whose journey began at SFC.
Saber’s SFC roots run deep. He was part of a gritty team that trained in backyard pools and laid the groundwork for one of the most legendary seasons in SFC water polo history. In his senior year, Saber led the Eagles to a 25-7 record and a historic playoff run in CIF’s top division, including a dramatic upset over #1-ranked La Jolla — a comeback still ed in San Diego water polo circles. The Eagles fell just short in the CIF Final against perennial powerhouse The Bishop’s School, according to a news release.
That season, Saber rewrote the SFC record books, setting single-season marks in goals (160), assists (102), and steals (158). His performance earned him All-American honors, All-CIF First Team, Union-Tribune All-Academic Team, and North County Times Player of the Year.
Saber continued his collegiate career at Pepperdine University before transferring to UC San Diego, where he helped the Tritons capture their first conference title in five years. As a senior, he netted 83 goals — sixth-most in UCSD history — and was recognized as an ACWPC All-American, All-WWPA Tournament First Team, All-NCAA Tournament First Team, and WWPA Player of the Week. He finished the season with 16 hat tricks and scored multiple goals in 22 straight games.
Now back at SFC, Coach Saber brings not only elite playing experience and tactical acumen but also a mission-driven coaching philosophy.
“Coaching isn’t just about the scoreboard — though make no mistake, we’re here to compete. It’s about forging men of grit, discipline, and unshakable faith,” said Saber in the news release. “In a world desperate for strong, God-fearing leaders, we’re building warriors who play with fire, lead with integrity, and honor Christ in everything they do. That’s the mission.”
Also ing Saber on the pool deck is Jonny Haahr, his 2006 co-captain and the player who hit the game-winning shot in the legendary La Jolla upset. A multi-sport athlete and valedictorian of SFC’s Class of 2007, Haahr went on to attend Cornell University, where he competed in javelin and served as vice president of The Navigators Christian fellowship. He returns to SFC with a sharp mind, strong leadership roots, and a heart for mentoring the next generation.
“I was at the games where Coach Saber and Haahr shocked the county, and watching them play was supernatural and electric,” said SFC Athletic Director Doug Miller in the news release. “Our players and our community will rally around these SFC legends and I’m confident the excitement for this sport will explode. More importantly, these new coaches are also some of the most grounded Godly leaders of young men, and I’m committed to their success in that capacity as well.”
