Joe Abing completed his 21st season (there was no season in 2020 due to Covid-19) as the Cerritos College men’s water polo head coach. In 2023, Abing led his team to the 3C2A State Tournament for the first time since 2012 and fourth time during his tenure. On Friday, September 22 at the San Diego Mesa Tournament, Abing won his 400th career game with the Falcons after a 20-11 victory over the host Olympians. He has now compiled a 412-226 career record. In the regular season, the team went undefeated in South Coast Conference play and finished second at the conference tournament, as well as fourth at the Southern California Championships. The team finished the season with a 22-12 record, which marks the 11th time they eclipsed the 20-win mark.

In the last three seasons since the return to play after missing the 2020 season due to Covid-19, the Falcons placed second in the SCC Tournament championship. They have qualified for the Southern California Regional Playoffs eight consecutive seasons and 19 times in his 21 seasons (20 competitive seasons). In his tenure as the head coach, Abing has named the conference’s Coach of the Year four times, with the latest being in 2018.

During the 2016 season, Abing led the team to the conference tournament championship and matched the program’s second most wins in a season with 26. In 2015, the team took second place in the South Coast Conference Tournament and won their first round Southern California Regional Playoff game. However, they were defeated in the semifinals and then in the third place match and finished fourth in Southern California. The team played without the services of two starters and three players in the post-season. The return to the playoffs came after a one-year hiatus, where they missed the post-season despite winning over 20 games. In 2014, they finished the regular season in second place, but placed third in the conference tournament and were not selected to advance to the post-season.

In the 2012 season, Abing and the Falcons won the conference championship and went on to finish third at the state championships. It marked the best finish in school history since their state championship in 1966. The team won a school record 28 games and went 28-11 on the year, which culminated with a 20-18 overtime win over West Valley College in the third place game. After winning the conference championship, the team won a couple of nail-biters to reach the Southern California Championship game, where they were defeated by eventual state champion, Golden West College.

In addition to advancing to the state tournament in 2012, the Falcons have been within one win of qualifying for the state tournament in 2015, 2011, 2007 and 2006. From 2004-05, Abing coached his teams to the state tournament, and in 2004 they were the Southern California Runner-up. For his efforts, Abing was named the South Coast Conference Coach of the Year and the Southern California Co-Coach of the Year in 2004. In his first year (2003), the team posted a 17-13 record and reached the regional playoffs. Along the way, they won the Saddleback Tournament for the first time in school history. Of their 13 losses that year, eight of them were by one or two goals.

During his time with the Falcons, Abing has coached 23 All-Americans, 36 All-Southern California selections and seven South Coast Conference Most Valuable Player, including Joshua Lamberton in 2023. In 2012, sophomore goalkeeper Michael Skinas was named the SCC Player of the Year, while in 2011 sophomore Isaac Ogloblin was one of the two Co-Most Valuable Players. In 2010, sophomore PJ Gabayeron was one of the three Tri-MVP’s of the SCC after Cory Baccus was named the MVP in 2009. In 2004, Mike Kim was his first to receive the award, as he was voted the SCC’s MVP. Along with his water polo duties, Abing also serves as the men's swimming coach and has had great success with the swim team. Abing was named the conference men’s swimming Coach of the Year in 2015, 2005 & 2007.

Abing came to Cerritos College after spending two seasons as the head coach at Ventura College. He did a solid job with the Pirates, leading them to a 21-11 record in 2002 and helped them advance to the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs both seasons. In addition to his duties at Ventura College, he served as the swimming coach at Ventura High School from 1995-2002. He also handled the water polo duties at Ventura High until 2000, before taking the job at Ventura College.

Abing came in with great credentials and a solid playing background. When he took over the Ventura High water polo team, they were coming off a 3-19 campaign. By the time he left, Abing had guided his teams to three Channel League championships, two CIF Finals Championship appearances, coached six All-Americans and was named the CIF Coach of the Year in 2000. He also served as the All-County All-Star Coach in 1998 and 1999. As the swimming coach, he led the school to their first two Channel League titles in their history, had seven All-Americans and one CIF champion.

Abing played water polo and competed in swimming at South Pasadena High, where he started on the 1989 CIF Championship water polo team. While in high school, he was named All-League, All-CIF and was named to the San Gabriel Valley All-Star Team. He moved on to Cuesta College, where he played water polo and swam for Terry Bowen, who swam and played water polo at Cerritos College. As a freshman, the Cougars finished second in the state and posted a 32-2 record. Abing decided to no longer compete athletically when he moved on to UCLA, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Social Science in 1995. In 2002, he graduated from Azusa Pacific with a Masters in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education. In addition to his duties with the men’s aquatics programs, Abing also teaches a full load of physical education classes.