COACH LINN

Coach Linn has coached with Olympia since 2011 and was one of Orlando Thunder’s inaugural coaches. As Head Goalie Coach, she brings a strong strategic background shaped by experience across multiple sports and a deep understanding of gameplay. She has helped develop five All-Americans and contributed to two state championship teams. Coach Linn has also worked with USA Water Polo coach Sean Nolan in the Junior National Team goalie selection process. She began her water polo coaching career at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, where she served as an Olympic Team athletic trainer. Her combination of technical goalie instruction, game strategy, and high-level athletic experience continues to make her an important part of the Thunder coaching staff.

COACH DIEGO

Coach Diego brings international playing experience and a championship mindset to Orlando Thunder. A former Venezuelan National Team athlete at the 16U, 18U, 20U, and Open levels, he comes from a family with deep roots in elite water polo. Since joining Thunder, he has helped elevate the club’s summer program to championship-level competition, including recent success at Junior Olympics and a Gold Medal at the Sunshine State Games. Coach Diego also brings high school coaching experience from Olympia High School and emphasizes strong fundamentals, game awareness, and competitive development. His ability to connect with athletes while preparing them for high-level competition has made him an important part of Thunder’s continued growth and success.

COACH ABDO

Coach Abdo brings extensive national and international water polo experience to Orlando Thunder as both a former elite athlete and longtime coach. He represented the Syrian National Team, competed for top clubs in Syria, and played professionally in Greece before beginning his coaching career in 2005. Since joining Thunder, he has played an important role in strengthening the club’s summer program and supporting the team’s 2026 Junior Olympic success. His coaching background includes building athlete development programs from the ground up, with a focus on technical skill, conditioning, and tactical understanding. Coach Abdo’s experience developing young athletes and creating structured pathways for growth continues to help elevate Thunder’s competitive program.

COACH ROSA

Coach Rosa is a proud Olympia High School graduate and Orlando Thunder alumna who has grown from athlete to an important leader within the program. She began playing with Thunder as a freshman and has returned over the past two summers to help lead and develop the club’s summer teams. In 2026, Rosa helped guide Thunder’s 14U Girls to a second-place finish at Junior Olympics in Dallas, Texas, while contributing to a strong summer of competitive success across the program. She currently attends Florida State University, where she competes on the club water polo team while pursuing a combined bachelor’s and master’s degree in Elementary Education. Rosa brings energy, leadership, and a genuine connection to the Thunder experience, making her a powerful role model for the athletes coming up behind her.

COACH POSSELL

Coach Possell, founder of Orlando Thunder, has been coaching and teaching since 1989 and has earned more than 1,000 career wins. She has built championship programs rooted in strong fundamentals, water polo IQ, and academic success, while developing numerous All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. Her coaching honors include state, regional, Metro, and USA Water Polo Coach of the Year awards. She has also worked with USA Water Polo’s ODP program and Junior National Team selection process. Most of all, she takes pride in seeing athletes continue in the sport as collegiate players, coaches, and now even second-generation Thunder athletes. Her coaching philosophy centers on developing confident, knowledgeable athletes who succeed both in the pool and in the classroom.

COACH ELAINE

Coach Elaine brings decades of water polo experience, leadership, and game-day instincts to Orlando Thunder. She played on the first-ever Lyman High School team, founded the women’s water polo team at UCF, competed at the Masters level for more than a decade, and coached Bishop Moore High School to multiple District and Regional Championships. After stepping away from coaching to raise her family, she returned to the pool as her children, Gavin and Ada, began playing. Elaine’s deep knowledge of the game, background in education, and calm competitive presence make her exactly the kind of coach athletes want beside them when the pressure is on and every possession matters.

COACH RACHEL

Coach Rachel’s connection to Orlando Thunder goes all the way back to the beginning. She started playing at Olympia High School as one of the original Thunder athletes before continuing her career at Gannon University, where she competed for four years at the varsity level while earning a degree in Exercise Science. She returned to Thunder as a coach in 2016 and later served as an assistant coach at Olympia High School, helping lead the program to multiple championships, including a State Championship. Rachel has also coached with USA Water Polo’s ODP Holiday Camp and traveled with Thunder’s Junior Olympic teams. Today, she leads Lake County’s only high school water polo program at Lake Minneola, helping grow the game in a new community. Her genuine love for water polo and commitment to developing the next generation make her an important part of Thunder’s continued growth.