Breaking in Brooklyn: Brown Coach Felix Mercado at LIU

Before a new season began this weekend for Felix Mercado and his Brown’s men’s program, the Bears’ coach took a brief detour… to Brooklyn.

With hopes for a Northeast Water Polo Conference title for the first time ever—the NWPC resulting from the 2015 split of the Collegiate Water Polo Association into Northeast and Mid-Atlantic brackets—as well as an NCAA berth for the first time since 2014, this summer Mercado took a well-beaten tourists’ path to the Big Apple.

Mercado and Gabby Juarez, Long Island University men’s and women’s head coach, worked with 30 high school athletes during a mid-July coaches’ clinic at LIU’s Steinberg Wellness Center. Not only was it the first time that the Brooklyn Hustle Waterpolo Club, hosts for the event, sponsored a coach as accomplished as Mercado, it was the Brown coach’s first experience with LIU’s shallow / deep configuration.

Gabby Juarez, Felix Mercado and Mike Byrd. Photo: M. Randazzo

It’s not the Florida native’s first time in Brooklyn. Over his 15 years in Providence Mercado has annually made a fall pilgrimage to St. Francis’ tiny pool 10 blocks for the LIU campus, to face the Terriers. With the SFC men playing their final season at their Brooklyn Heights’ location, perhaps now is an ideal time for the Bears to look to a new facility for their NYC trips.

I caught up with Mercado in between drills at LIU. Our discussion was focused on what’s happening in the New York City water polo scene.

- You just finished your first time on [the LIU] pool deck. What are your thoughts on water polo in Brooklyn?

I was really impressed with the athletes and their work ethic. I look forward to coming back because I want to see their growth. [LIU] has a shallow deep pool, but we were able to make do. There are a lot of college games played in shallow / deep pools.

We as coaches have to get comfortable with the environment that we’re in—and it’s important that we’re adaptable. The athletes did a good job but yes, it was my first time working a camp at a shallow / deep pool. And I enjoyed it.

- The St. Francis pool in Brooklyn—which you know well—is shallow / deep and will be demolished at the end of 2022. The good news is that the LIU pool will host a men’s program starting in the fall—a boost for water polo in America’s largest city.

It’s important that you get the community behind it. The city, folks in Brooklyn, behind it to see if we can find an area or a pool that is conducive to collegiate water polo. [New York] is such an incredible city with so much history. It’s a shame if we can’t expose this to other kids who aren’t from this area or have never been to Brooklyn.

We hope that something works out where a facility is built, or we find one that works—and allows us to continue coming to Brooklyn and play games here.

- Your commitment to growing collegiate water polo is well documented. You've hosted a number of first-time programs at the annual Bruno Classic, and last year you took your Bears’ men’s team to Texas to be the first DI polo program to play in the Lone Star State. Why is it important to you to see American polo grow and thrive wherever possible?

I tell a lot of people that water polo saved my life. It's part of who I am; I wouldn’t have met my wife, had my kids—made two of my closest friends. It’s just an incredible community.

My passion drives me to [this]. I don’t want to say it’s an obligation because that seems more like a job.

[Catching up with Brown Water Polo’s Felix Mercado]

I love the sport, and anyone who wants to grow it, I’m going to support them if I can. Fortunately, my university supports me being someone who’s able to help the sport grow.

This is an addictive sport and addictive culture. There’s a lot of smart, driven people that I like to be around. I hope they’re future role models for my children.

- There’s the men’s program at LIU which will launch this fall. Gabby Juarez, who has had great success inaugurating a women’s program here in Brooklyn will now take on the additional challenge of getting the Sharks’ men’s team off the ground.

[Coach Juarez] has done a really good job in such a short amount of time, especially with Covid-19. But, let’s not forget the Brian Kelly’s of the world [Iona’s men’s and women’s head coach] or Brian Bacharach [Fordham men’s coach] who have been able to set a path that Gabby has followed.

[Fordham’s Bacharach Talks Ram Water Polo, MAWPC Hopes @ Navy]

It does take a certain person [to succeed] and Gabby is more than capable of doing a great job [at LIU]. She commands respect, whether you’re a male or a female.

Mercado and Juarez at LIU’s first-ever women’s match in 2020. Photo: M. Randazzo

She’s going to do a great job. She has great support here and I know that she’s going to take advantage of every opportunity to grow her program and be the top team in Brooklyn and New York—though St. Francis will have something to say about that!

[Fan in the Stands: A Short Walk to an Old Rivalry]

- Is it possible that the Brown men’s team will make a visit to LIU this fall?

This fall it won’t happen because our schedule is pretty packed. If there’s opportunities to help, we’re there for her. But Gabby has so much local support; I’m sure St. Francis Brooklyn will be happy to come in here and give her opportunities [to grow]. She’s got Iona, Wagner, St. Francis to help out.

- And Fordham. The Bronx is only a subway ride away! I’m sure you’ve been following how Rams polo has really come into its own the past few years.

To consider yourself a smart man you have to hire smart people. Bill Harris is one of the most intelligent people I know; that St. Francis education helped him out! I’m giving Bill all the credit to recognize what Brian Bacharach was able to bring to the table—and allow him to grow.

[Fan in the Stands: A Bronx Water Polo Tale]

Fordham University also deserves credit—the admissions department [and] the athletic department sees a sport that they can be successful in and supports it. That's the key. As much as coaches can do a great job, you need the support from the athletic department.

Kudos to Fordham for recognizing that water polo can bring in some highly intelligent people and build a successful program. Their administration and their athletic department help to attract the athletes they need to be one of the top teams in the country.