Joe Tristan enters his eighth season as the head women's water polo coach at Behrend.  Tristan is committed to constantly improving the program through both academic and athletic success.  

Tristan lead the 2007 men's team to the third most wins in school history. The blue and white were ranked eleventh in the nation in goals per game.  Through Tristan's leadership the Behrend Lions tallied 10.5 goals per game.  

Tristan led his 2004 team into Behrend history with a fourth place finish at the Division III Eastern Championships and guided two players to the All-Tournament team.  He also led Anthony Spoto to the Division III All-America Team and was able to take Spoto to the USA Senior Men's National Team Tryouts in Southern California.  Last season the men finished fourteenth in the academic national poll, the highest the team had reached since the program began. 

Coach Tristan is a member of USA Water Polo where he is currently a Level 3 coach.  He is also a member of the American Water Polo Coaches Association.  
Tristan joined the Behrend Lions after leading the women's club water polo program at Eastern Michigan University. He also was an assistant coach for the Great Lakes Water Polo Club in Ann Arbor, MI. At EMU he coached a pair of all-conference players and directed the team to earn all-academic honors. From 1997-2002, Tristan was the head boy's junior varsity coach for Huron High School. 

A native of Southern California, Tristan played water polo and swam for Earl Warren High School. He also played water polo for Tulare Water Polo Club and for Eastern Michigan in 1995-96. In 2000, Tristan competed and finished twenty-second in the United States Olympic swimming trials in the 200 meter freestyle.  From 1998-2000 Tristan was ranked in the FINA Top 20 and the top 100 in the World in the 200 meter and 100 meter freestyle events. He currently is EMU's record holder in the 800 freestyle relay. Tristan was a vital part of a pair of EMU Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Championship teams.  

While serving as a coach at Behrend Tristan will also serve as the assistant men's and women's swimming coach and instruct in the health and physical education department.