BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — The Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) PoloCAST Podcast with George Gross continues on its bi-weekly schedule as Washington & Jefferson College men’s and women’s water polo coach Nikola Malezanov talks about his collegiate and international experiences.
The continuation of a series which has previously featured former United States Naval Academy head coach/official/Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame member Mike Schofield (September 22), Harvard University men’s and women’s head coach Ted Minnis (October 6), George Washington University men’s and women’s/former Indiana University women’s head coach Barry King (October 20), former Hartwick College women’s head coach/current United States Air Force Academy assistant coach Alan Huckins (November 3), Fordham University associate/former head coach Bill Harris (November 17), a Thanksgiving week episode with podcast host/former Team Canada goalie Gross (November 24) and the most recent edition with Connecticut College men’s and women’s head coach/former University of Michigan women’s head coach Matt Anderson (December 1), the interview with Malezanov covers his experiences in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and on the international level.
Slated for release on Tuesday, December 15, the bi-weekly podcast is available on the league website, Anchor, Apple Podcasts, Google and Spotify.
A series highlighting some of the game’s best minds and athletes over the past 50+ years, the podcast features CWPA Hall of Fame member Gross talking about the game – but also the life of the individual to provide listeners with more than just an X’s and O’s conversation.
New episodes are released on the first and third Tuesday of every month with some bonus episodes coming up during the holidays.
Follow the entire series by CLICKING HERE.
About Nikola Malezanov: Appointed to the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Committee in May 2020 to represent Division III and the East Region on the committee, 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.
