Former Mercer Island High School boys water polo player and 2005 high school graduate Adam Massmann was selected to be the new boys water polo head coach.

“We have a lot of potential, and I want to continue to help this program,” said Massmann.

The new coach was an assistant to 2007 head coach Lauren Ayers.

“I really enjoyed last year,” said Massmann. “I want to continue that progress we had last year.”

Massmann played varsity for the Mercer Island boys water polo team during three of his four years and won a state title each season.

But there are two things that many people remember Massmann for: his red hair and a Taco Del Mar commercial that he appeared in.

“I still get random phone calls from friends telling me they saw the commercial again,” said Massmann.

After high school, Massmann attended the University of California at Santa Barbara for one year and then took a year off in El Salvador.

“My life has kind of been seat of the pants lately,” said Massmann.

Massmann hopes to get the Islanders back to the state title game this season despite the change in the league.

“When I was playing it was about 30 teams, but now the league has split,” said Massmann. “There are only about 10 or 12 teams in our league, but it will be just as fun.”

Massmann said that he has a good relationship with his assistant coaches.

“This program needs longevity and we are all on the same page,” said Massmann.