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Year: 7th
Alma Mater: University of Hawaii 2001
Hometown: Perth, Australia

Lisa De Rossi-Cooper concluded a memorable 6th season as head coach of the Cal State East Bay Women's Water Polo team. Under De Rossi-Cooper, the Pioneers won their first ever Collegiate III National Championship. The Pioneers (20-14) went 5-0 in the championships including a four-overtime victory over Cal Lutheran in the title match. The championship victory over Cal Lutheran was De Rossi-Cooper's 100th win as coach of the Pioneer women's water polo team. De Rossi-Cooper earned Collegiate III National Coach of the Year honors.

De Rossi-Cooper has established CSUEB as one of the top division III water polo programs in the nation, with top five national finishes in her past five years as head coach. The 2008 Championship was the first national championship for the Cal State East Bay Intercollegiate athletic program in 20 years. 2008 was the 5th consecutive appearance for De Rossi-Cooper and the Pioneers at the Collegiate III National Championship tournament. The Pioneers had 5 All-Americans in 2008, including goalkeeper Ellie Wilhelmsen , who was named Collegiate III National Player of the Year. The 2007 team finished in 4th and in 2006 the Pioneers finished 5th. Cal State East Bay were the 2005 runners-up in the Division III National Championships. In 2004 De Rossi-Cooper led the Pioneers to a 4th place finish in their first ever post season appearance.

Coach De Rossi's philosophy combines both academic and athletic excellence. She believes her athletes are students first and foremost and sees water polo as an integral part of their overall college experience. De Rossi believes that the overall development of her athletes is of the utmost importance, and this is taught through the life skills of teamwork, discipline, persistence, communication and dedication.

In her six years at CSUEB, De Rossi has produced 15 All-Americans and 39 Academic All-Americans. As a program, the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 squads received Academic All-American team honors, proving they excel in both the pool and the classroom.

De Rossi, a native of Perth, Australia, started playing water polo at the age of 14. She was a member of the Western Australian State Junior Team that won national championships in 1996 and 1998. De Rossi also was a member of the Australian National Youth and National Junior Teams. In 1999, De Rossi received a full athletic scholarship to play water polo at the University of Hawaii. While at Hawaii, De Rossi received Division I All-American and Academic All-American honors, was Hawaii's top scholar athlete, leading goal scorer, and received Hawaii's most outstanding player award. De Rossi graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Health and Exercise Science. She completed her master's degree in sports psychology at Cal State East Bay.

As a coach, De Rossi-Cooper led Perth College to back to back Western Australian state high school championships. Before taking over the Cal State East Bay water polo program, she coached Pac 5 combined high schools in Honolulu, Hawaii.