Coach Mary Giles, who is in her 22nd year at Ventura College, returns to the pool deck for her ninth season with the swimming and diving teams in 2022. The long-time women's water polo coach for the Pirates assisted the swim teams from 2002-2005 and was an associate head coach for two years before taking over the women's team in 2016.  She also was the acting head men's swim coach during that season before taking over the reins of both swim teams in 2017-18. She spent the 2018-19 academic year as VC's Interim Athletic Director.  

Giles shared the Western State Conference men's swimming Coach of the Year honors with Hall of Fame VC coach Larry Baratte in 2016 before earning the honor again in 2017, both WSC championship campaigns by the Pirate men.  She also led the VC women to runner-up finishes in the conference championships in 2016 and 2017, respectfully.

Giles is no stranger to the pool deck as she directed the VC women's water polo team for 18 years.  During Giles' tenure, women's water polo team, the Pirates won seven WSC crowns ('01, '04, '05, '08, '09, '10 and '11). She was also honored as the WSC Coach of the Year six times ('01, '04, '08, '09, '10 and '11). Her teams captured three CCCAA State Scholar Team Awards (2007, 2009 and 2015). Giles is also a full-time health instructor at the College.

Coach Giles (McDonough) was born and raised in Ventura. She attended Buena High School where she was a member of the swim team and played water polo on the boy's team. While attending Ventura College she was a two-year All-WSC and All-American swimmer, and played on the first women's water polo club team at Ventura College. She was the swimming MVP her second year before transferring to San Jose State.

While at San Jose Giles swam for Roseann Benson and played water polo under the coaching of Lou Tully. She captained the Spartans' water polo team for three years, was a three year Western Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete, a three year SJSU Outstanding Athlete and a 1998 Mountain Pacific Scholar Athlete. She earned her bachelor's degree cum laude in 1999 from San Jose State majoring in nutritional science with minors in chemistry and health and was a Deans Scholar. Giles completed her teaching credential at Cal Lutheran University. She earned her master's degree in education with an emphasis in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2003.

Coach Giles resides in Ventura with her husband Mike and son Merrick, and daughter Makayla.