Same Gene Pool

Larry Naeve wanted to spend more time with his son, Brendan, so he quit his job as La Canada High’s water polo coach in 1980.

Fifteen years later, he again wanted to spend more time with Brendan, so he became La Canada’s water polo coach.

“As a parent, you don’t really get too many chances to be involved in your kid’s life,” Larry Naeve said.

When Brendan was born, that meant giving up water polo.

When Brendan was 15 and preparing for his second season on the varsity, that meant coming back as coach.

“For me, being able to teach and coach at my kid’s school is like a luxury,” Larry Naeve said.

It’s done wonders for La Canada’s water polo program too.

The Spartans won the Southern Section 2-A Division title in 1979, the year before Naeve quit to be with his newborn son. After he left, the program wasn’t the same, finishing no better than fourth until he returned as coach.

In 1995, La Canada finished second in the Rio Hondo League and made the Southern Section playoffs.

Last year, the Spartans again finished second in league and advanced all the way to the Division III quarterfinals.

This year, La Canada is 9-2 and ranked No. 2 in Division III, its only losses coming in the finals of two prestigious tournaments. Having established themselves among the premier teams in the region, the Spartans have hopes of ending South Pasadena’s 10-year reign as league champion.

Brendan played sparingly as a freshman, but he has emerged as a top player under the tutelage of his father, leading La Canada in scoring the past two seasons and earning All-Southern Section honors last year.

“It was weird at first,” Brendan said of playing for his father, “but then we learned to differentiate between when we were father and son as opposed to coach and player.”

Brendan spent most of his life not knowing anything of his father’s expertise as a coach. When he was in seventh grade, Brendan went to watch a friend practice and his father tagged along.

“He knew all about the sport,” Brendan said. “I was like, ‘How do you know so much?’ ”

Larry, a former player at USC, had chosen not to discuss water polo with his son because Brendan did not show interest.

“You just don’t realize that your kids weren’t always around,” Larry said. “He didn’t have any idea I knew something about water polo. He got involved because of his friend, not because of me.”

When Brendan started playing for an age-group team, Larry frequently came to the games. The more he went, the more he wanted to get involved.

“There was always something about coaching that I missed,” Larry said. “It was really difficult sitting on the sidelines because I always wanted to say ‘No, no, that’s not the way you’re supposed to do it.’ ”

When Brendan enrolled at La Canada, Larry, who teaches special education at the school, got closer to the action.

“I would be just hanging around at practice,” Larry said. “I just wanted to watch, and Brendan would say ‘Can you just go away.’ ”

Instead, he got even closer.

At the prodding of friends and co-workers, Larry stepped back into the coaching ranks.

And his son is glad he did.

“I think he’s a great coach,” Brendan said. “He’s spends a lot of time with it, he’s very dedicated, and he knows the game. Before, there was a lot of choppy individual play here. Now there’s a lot of team play and team continuity.”

Brendan is a senior, but Larry says he will continue to coach even without his son around.

“It’ll be different, but it’ll still be fun,” Larry said.

Brendan entertains the idea of earning a Division I water polo scholarship, something Larry says is possible.

“He loves to play,” Larry said of his son. “I’ve basically given him a vehicle and he’s blossomed. The only problem with him playing in college is I’ll be the one with the problem if he goes somewhere that I can’t watch him play.”