Vavic wins third straight Coach of the Year award


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USC men’s water polo coach Jovan Vavic was named National Coach of the Year Monday, becoming the first coach ever to receive the award in three consecutive seasons.

Vavic was presented with the honor following his team’s third-straight NCAA title this past December.

USC is the first program to accomplish such a feat since 1980.

Winning tradition · USC coach Jovan Vavic has coached the Trojans for 16 years and compiled a 367-61 (.857) record during his tenure. - Daily Trojan file photo

“It’s satisfying when your peers recognize that you are doing a good job,” Vavic said. “The credit goes to my players and assistant coaches, big time. The head coach gets the credit, but it’s the people behind the scenes who make this program really successful.”

Vavic has won the award for the men’s team and the ninth time altogether, as he also won the award for coaching the women’s team on three occasions.

In his 16th year, the Trojans’ coach led the team in was, in many ways, a rebuilding year, after many stand-out seniors graduated from the 2009 championship team.

His team quickly dispelled that notion, as it won every tournament it entered this past season, and downed California 12-10 in overtime in Berkeley, Calif. to secure its sixth national championship under Vavic’s watch.

Although a little premature, a fourth consecutive National Coach of the Year award might soon follow, as the Trojans are returning virtually every starter from this year’s team. In fact, Vavic believes that this is the most formidable the water polo program has been during his tenure.

“The last few years we have really established ourselves as the measuring stick for many of these other teams,” Vavic said. “I would definitely say that we have never been stronger. As a matter of fact, it looks like we are going to have the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation again.”

Unsurprisingly, Vavic enjoys little downtime. Amid signing players for his men’s water polo team, Vavic is preparing the women’s water polo team to defend its national title as well.

The Women of Troy’s season begins this Saturday at the Stanford Invitational, commencing Vavic’s  quest for yet another NCAA title.