Men’s water polo promotes Pintaric to co-head coach
Women’s and men’s head water polo coach Jovan Vavic has announced that long-time assistant Marko Pintaric will join him at the helm of the men’s program as co-head coach.
Pintaric was previously the associate head coach for the men’s program as well as scouting director for the women’s side of the program. He will retain his position for the Women of Troy while moving up for the men.
Pintaric has been a coach for USC for 15 years, all serving under his former coach, Vavic.
“Pinta has been an integral part of our program as a player and now as a coach,” Vavic said in a press release. “He has developed some of the best goalies in NCAA history, and his energy, knowledge and innovative mind has brought a great deal of excitement to our team.”
As a coach, Pintaric has been a part of eight men’s national championships as well as three national championships on the women’s side. Pintaric has specialized in goalie development, having coached four Trojans who represented their respective nations in goals during the 2012 Olympics.
As a player, he was a two-year starter in 1997 and 1998. Pintaric was a pivotal player during the 1998 national championship run, scoring 44 goals that season. That year, Pintaric was also awarded National Player of the Year and was a first team All-American.
Outside of USC, Pintaric has also joined Vavic as an interim coach for the men’s national team, leading the team to World Championship qualification at the 2013 World Aquatic Championship Qualification Tournament.
The Croatian native graduated with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in communications at USC.
“Pinta is loyal, committed, hard-working and an unselfish young coach,” Vavic said. ”USC water polo would never be what it is today without Pinta’s great contributions. I am thrilled that he has accepted this new position and am looking forward to many more great years together.”
The Men of Troy are coming off a season in which they fell to UCLA in the NCAA Championship game.