Water polo athlete turned coach: Diana Hattar helps lead athletes to success

Alumna water polo player Diana Khaled Hattar talks about how she continues impacting the sport beyond just being an athlete through her experience as an assistant coach at Fullerton College. Photos courtesy of Diana Hattar

As an athlete progresses through higher levels of competition, reality can slowly set in that competing at peak levels will not last forever. But with the right experiences and opportunities, athletes can extend the longevity of their careers and find continued passion for their sport through coaching.

Chapman alumna Diana Khaled Hattar ‘21 played two years of water polo at Fullerton College before she transferred to Chapman to pursue strong academics and a competitive athletic program and graduated with bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology. 

For the past two years, she has served as an assistant coach at Fullerton College, and she credits her continuous involvement with the sport to head coach Gabriel Martinez.

Hattar kneels poolside with the women’s water polo team at Fullerton College, where she has coached for two years.

“I think being coached and working with the same coach has helped me a lot,” Hattar told The Panther. “(Martinez has) coached the Olympics, he’s coached club teams (and) the best teams in the world. He’s made the worst players, or not-the-best players like myself, the best or close to good.”

In fall 2022, Hattar’s team ended up as conference champions, placing second in regionals and third in the state championship.

Hattar pointed out her progression and growth as a player and coach as the reason for her current success.

“If you looked at me as a high school player, I had no business playing with a college team, honestly,” Hattar said. “I could swim, I could catch the ball (and) I could do certain things, but I wasn’t a state championship athlete. Just having a work ethic and working hard and just taking in everything you’re told is a big thing (for growth and success).”

Hattar describes her coaching style as one that pushes the limits of athletes. She recognized that while her style of coaching is tough, she makes herself available to talk to players inside and outside of the sport. Hattar adjusts her coaching techniques on an individual basis.

“Some athletes need to see it visually (on a board),” Hattar said. “Some athletes walk it through, some people need to watch the athletes do it before they do it. But the athletes we’re with, we always make sure that before we do something, we take them out and show them exactly what needs to be done.”

Hattar continued that when showing athletes a new move or technique, it takes effort and time to properly understand and execute what needs to be done. However, this involves incremental improvements over time.

“Everyone always says practice makes perfect,” Hattar said. “I don’t believe that. I believe practice makes improvement, and then it leads later down the line after months, maybe years, to perfection.”

As someone relatively close in age to players she coaches, Hattar said that this helps her better relate to players. She balances the dynamic between being a tough coach, but also someone who has a softer side and is willing to sort anything out with players.

“I get to relate with them a lot more because I’m closer in age so they feel comfortable,” Hattar said. “Also, I’m a female, so they’re more comfortable talking to me about certain things. But at the same time I try to make sure that they know ‘I’m your coach first, and your friend later.’”

Hattar said that as an assistant coach, one of the fulfilling benefits of her job is following where the players go after participating in Fullerton College’s water polo program.

“Seeing (the growth) happen and seeing them become the athlete that they are, and getting to move on to play at Division (I, II or III) schools (is rewarding),” Hattar said. “They’ll send me their schedule and I’m there (for games) right away… and after (the game) we get to talk and collaborate and catch up on water polo (and life).”