By Leila Arzy and Rebecca Katz
The Athletic Department hired Vince Orlando to serve as Harvard-Westlake’s new athletic director and Jonathan Carroll to head the swimming and diving program.
Orlando worked as El Camino Real’s athletic director for the past four years. He managed 22 varsity sports for the Conquistadors and oversaw 13 City Section Championships during his tenure. He also served as a history teacher, baseball coach and girls’ golf coach.
Although Orlando said leaving El Camino was tough, he is excited about this opportunity.
“Harvard-Westlake was always that kind of place you dreamed about working at,” Orlando said. “When the opportunity arose to become the athletic director here, I was really grateful for the chance.”
He will replace Terry Barnum, who was promoted to Head of Athletics in April.
“Terry Barnum is definitely a tough act to follow,” Orlando said. “I hope to do whatever it takes to live up to the legacy he left in this position.”
Orlando played baseball and football at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame before playing baseball at UC Irvine.
Though he is a baseball player, Orlando said if he could attend one game at Harvard-Westlake, it would be the basketball games against rival Loyola.
“I’ve heard that the energy and enthusiasm of the crowds at those games is really a sight to behold, and I can’t wait to be a part of it,” he said.
As the new head coach of the swim team and head of the diving program, Carroll plans to take his swimmers to the Eastern Interscholastic Championship in Philadelphia.
“I am really excited to introduce some of my high-profile kids to the more national level meets that exist,” Carroll said. “I want to excite the swimmers and continue to attract more people to the Harvard-Westlake swimming program. I want to raise the profile of the program and excel in the sport in a world class facility.”
Carroll has been coaching club swimming in Los Angeles since 2004, so he has interacted with Harvard-Westlake and their students before.
“In certain circles, the swim team is seen as a fluffy program compared to some of the other programs on campus,” Carroll said. “I would definitely like to change that perception. A lot of money has been invested into the swim team, so I want my swimmers to come to the pool deck and take it seriously.”
As the head coach of aquatics, Carroll is expected to teach swim classes at the lower campus, oversee middle and high school swim teams and manage staffing.
“I have always had a respect and fondness for the school,” Carroll said. “So when the opportunity came along to officially be a part of the Harvard-Westlake family, it didn’t require much thought at all. What makes Harvard-Westlake so prestigious is this new pool. Just being in charge of the program itself allows me to implement my own vision.”
Carroll’s priority is to make Harvard-Westlake into a major force in the Mission League, increase the number of swimmers that make CIF finals and even have some of his swimmers qualify for the Olympic trials.
