BRIDGEPORT, Pa. — Washington & Jefferson College men’s and women’s head coach Nikola Malezanov was named to the United States men’s national team coaching staff for a three-game series against Serbia in Southern California from December 18-to-22. He will serve on the staff of USA National Team head coach Dejan Udovicic along with fellow assistant coach Gavin Arroyo.
Competition commences on Wednesday, December 18, at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, Calif., at 7:00 p.m. Pacific then moves to Torrance Aquatic Center in Torrance, Calif., on December 20 at 7:00 p.m. Pacific. The series concludes at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, Calif., on December 22 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific. Tickets for the first match are sold out, but tickets for games on December 20 and 22 are available by CLICKING HERE.
All three matches will air live at YouTube.com/USAWP with live statistics available via The FOSH.
A native of Nis, Serbia, Malezanov took over 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.
A veteran of more than 15 years of water polo coaching experience, he has also been 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. Previously, 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.
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.
