The Royal 559 Academy coaching staff is comprised of professional coaches with vast and diverse levels of experience, ranging from elite high school and club levels to international and US National Team experience. Our coaches pride themselves in being great role models, mentors and students of the game. They are committed to the holistic mission of the Royal 559 Academy focused on athletes, coaches, and parents.
CAITLIN HASKELL
A Fresno native, Haskell returns to the Valley after two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Caitlin brings vast experience as both a player and coach to Royal 559. She currently serves as an assistant coach for the 14 & Under Girls.
UC IRVINE: As a collegiate player at UC Irvine (2008-11), Haskell garnered 2011 ACWPC All-America honorable mention accolades and was a two-time Big West All-Conference second team selection (2010, '11) under the tutelage of current USA Women's National Team assistant coach Dan Klatt. She ended her collegiate career with 118 career goals, including a career-best 41 as a junior, ranking among UCI's all-time goal leaders. As a senior, Haskell led the Anteaters to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and captured three consecutive Big West Tournament titles (2009-11). Haskell graduated from UC Irvine in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in social ecology. As a senior, she earned ACWPC All-Academic Team honors and was named a Big West and UCI Scholar-Athlete.
COLLEGE: In 2016, she helped guide the Wolverines to their highest ranking, and highest finish, in program history at No. 4. This came on the heels of capturing their first CWPA title since 2010 and earning an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.
PREP/CLUB: Haskell joined Michigan after spending three years (2011-14) with SOCAL Water Polo, considered among the top clubs in the country. During her tenure, she quickly rose to youth girls co-head coach and was instrumental in coaching SOCAL to top finishes in the Junior Olympics and the prestigious TYR Champions Cup, including gold at the 2013 event.
USA WATER POLO: She has held the position of SOPAC Zone assistant coach and was selected to be the assistant coach for the USA National Development Team (8th grade and under) from 2011-13. While in Michigan, she spent time as an assistant coach in the Great Lakes Zone Team. In 2013, Haskell was selected to serve as National Team Staff coach for the ODP Holiday Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Prior to UCI, Haskell was a standout prep athlete at Buchanan High School, leading the Bears to three straight California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Central Section Championships. She was named back-to-back CIF Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior