With five successful seasons as the head coach of Chapman's women's water polo team under his belt, Eric began his tenure as head men's coach in 2007. The son of long-time aquatics director Dennis Ploessel, Eric became Chapman’s head women’s water polo coach in spring 2004 and helped guide the Panthers to their first top-10 national ranking in school history with a 17-13 record. In 2005, Chapman ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation and qualified for the Collegiate III Championhips for the first time ever and finished fourth in the tournament. Ploessel's athletes have also excelled outside of the water as Chapman ranked No. 5 in the nation in team GPA in 2006 with a 3.33 mark.

In the fall of 2005, Ploessel was added to the Chapman staff full-time as aquatics supervisor will oversee and manage Chapman's new Allred Aquatics Center.

Prior to becoming head coach of the women, Eric served as men's and women's assistant coach for three seasons. He still serves as an assistant on the men's and women's swimming teams. Eric played collegiately at Long Beach State from 1995-98, scoring 58 career points, including a career-high 20 as a senior. He once notched five goals in an overtime win versus U.C. San Diego.

Dennis Ploessel
Brian Ploessel