USC’s Vavic Named Water Polo Coach of the Year

LOS ANGELES, California, May 26. THE Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches has honored University of Southern California Coach Jovan Vavic as the ACWPC SPEEDO Coach of the Year. Vavic’s USC team won the 2005 Men’s NCAA Championship and amassed an impressive record of 26-1 (finishing the 2005 season with a 19-game winning streak). Vavic improved his career coaching record on the men's side to 237-52. His Trojans also claimed the 2005 MPSF Conference Championship and Vavic earned himself MPSF Coach of the Year honors. Vavic accepted the award on his birthday.

“We are proud to honor an such an esteemed coach as Jovan”, said Larry Sanders, ACWPC President. “Jovan not only had a great season, he has achieved tremendous success throughout his career”

Vavic came to USC in 1992 as an assistant men's water polo coach, joined John Williams as Troy's co-head coach in 1995 and took over the men's head coaching reins in 1999 after Williams retired. He and Williams were named National Coaches of the Year in 1998 after leading USC to its first national championship. They also were named MPSF Co-Coaches of the Year in 1996 after leading USC to the conference title.

The 44-year-old Vavic, a native of Yugoslavia (now Serbia and Montenegro), spent the 1991 season as an assistant men's coach at UCLA. Previously, he coached three seasons (1987-1990) at Palos Verdes (Calif.) High, where he led Palos Verdes to two undefeated Pioneer League seasons (1988-89).

In the summer of 2003, Vavic was the head coach for the United States team that finished eighth at the World University Games and narrowly missed a chance to play in the medal round after losing to Serbia and Montenegro 12-10 in a shootout. In 1995, Vavic served as an assistant water polo coach for the U.S. World University Games team.

Vavic graduated from UCLA in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in history. He and his wife, Lisa, have a 13-year-old son, Nikola, an 11-year-old daughter, Monica, a 6-year-old son, Marko, and a 5-year-old son, Stefan.

The ACWPC will announce the Women’s Coach of the Year in June.

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