Joe Tristan enters his 19th 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. During the 2022 season, the Lions broke the tied the program ecord for most wins in a season and had four players selected All-Conference, and two players selected All-Americans.

Tristan led his 2016 team into Behrend history with a fourth place finish at the CWPA Division III Championships and guided two players to the All-Tournament team including the Rookie of the Tournament, and Coach Tristan was also recognized as the CWPA Coach of the Year.  In 2015, Coach Tristan led Maryn Horn to a conference Rookie of the Year honor. 

In his 17 years at the helm Coach Tristan has mentored 13 All-Americans and 12 CWPA Division III All-Conference, six All-Tournament team members, and 83 athletes have been recognized as National and Conference All-Academic team members. 

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. 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 instruct in the health and physical education department.