ERIE, Pa. — Gannon University head men’s and women’s water polo coach Zarko Sadikovic announced the addition of his brother and former Golden Knights’ standout Marko Sadikovic as an assistant coach for both programs.
Sadikovic returns to Gannon after previously serving as a volunteer assistant coach with the men’s and women’s programs during the 2018-19 academic year. He will assist with technical instruction, practice planning, tactical preparation and player development, with an emphasis on position-specific skills and front-court play.
“Playing water polo alongside my twin brother Marko in college was pretty special,” said Sadikovic. “We’ve spent our whole lives in the same pool, so I guess it only makes sense that we ended up back at the same college, this time coaching together. After spending our whole lives side by side, we figured we might as well keep it going. Playing together was special, but getting the chance to build something together as coaches is something I’m really looking forward to.”
A native of Niš, Serbia, Sadikovic is no stranger to the Gannon water polo program. He was a three-year letterwinner for the Golden Knights from 2014-16, finishing his career with 94 goals and 111 drawn exclusions. His 111 career exclusions remain fourth in program history.
Sadikovic earned All-Mid-Atlantic Water Polo Conference West Region Second Team honors as a senior in 2016 after totaling 25 goals, five assists, 32 drawn exclusions and seven steals. He was also named to the CWPA Division II Championship All-Tournament Team during both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
His 43 exclusions during the 2014 season currently rank eighth in Gannon single-season history, while his 36 in 2015 rank 17th. Sadikovic led the Golden Knights in the category in both seasons.
Before arriving at Gannon as a student-athlete, Sadikovic developed his game in Serbia with VK Nais in Niš and represented Serbia at the junior national-team level. Primarily a two-meter center, his playing background provides experience in front-court offense, exclusion creation and positional technique.
Sadikovic also brings previous coaching experience with Diablo Water Polo Club in California, where he coached boys’ and girls’ teams and helped guide teams to the 2013 USA Water Polo Junior Olympics. He also worked as a private instructor focusing on individual technique, positional development, conditioning and game awareness.
Away from the pool, Sadikovic most recently served as Assistant Dean of Operations and Housing at Allegheny College from 2023-25. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gannon in 2017 before receiving a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Mercyhurst University in 2020.
Release courtesy Gannon University Athletics Communications
