WASHINGTON, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College head water polo coach Nikola Malezanov was recently appointed to serve on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men’s Water Polo Committee.
Coach Malezanov replaces Matt Anderson from Connecticut College on the six-person national committee. Malezanov will represent Division III and the East Region on the committee. His four-year appointment will run from September 2020 through August of 2024.
Other committee members include representatives from Stanford University (Assistant Director of Athletics Austin Lee), Harvard University (Head Coach Ted Minnis), the United States Air Force Academy (Associate Director of Athletics Lt. Col. George Nelson) and Long Beach State University (Director of Athletics Andrew Fee).
“I look forward to collaborating with my peers and contribute to the development of our sport,” Malezanov said. “There are challenges regarding the rules. These uncertain times affect every institution and division differently, and I will enjoy helping the community through it.”
Nikola Malezanov has served as the head coach for the W&J men’s and women’s water polo programs since the the Fall of 2017.
The native of Nis, Serbia, arrived at W&J following a successful tenure as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Water Polo Club and North Allegheny High School, where he won Pennsylvania state titles in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
An assistant coach for the USA Men’s National Team in a three-game exhibition series against Serbia in Southern California from December 2019, Malezanov holds over 15 years of coaching experience.
Previously involved with the USA Water Polo Olympic Development and National Team programs as an assistant coach for the USA Water Polo Cadet National Team and the Great Lakes Zone head coach, he served on the staff for the US National Team at the World University Games and World League preliminary tournament.
Malezanov gained experience in the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant for swimming and water polo at Salem University (W.Va.) from 2007-2009. He then moved on to the United States Naval Academy as a coach with the club water polo team, eventually earning a spot on the varsity coaching staff in 2010 and 2011.
He joined the W&J staff during the Spring of 2016 as head coach of the women’s team and led the Presidents’ to a 16-6 finish with a runner-up finish at the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Championship hosted by Connecticut College.
Following a year off, he returned as the men’s and women’s head coach in the Fall of 2017.
He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Nis and later received his Master’s in Education, Coaching and Exercise Science from Salem.
