USC Trojans Men's Water Polo History & Archive
Overview
Since starting water polo in 1922, the Trojans have collected over 1,400 victories and have won 10 national championships while currently riding a run of 20 straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. John Williams led Troy to prominence during his tenure from 1973 to 1998. Nineteen of his finished in the top-seven nationally, including the 1998 NCAA championship team (five others placed second). Jovan Vavic, who was co-head coach in 1995, took over as head coach in 1999 and helped USC make history in winning six straight national championships from 2008-2013. In all, Vavic guided the USC men to nine titles and eight runner-up finishes through 2018. The 2008 and 2012 Trojan teams both went 29-0. In 2019, Marko Pintaric became head coach and has guided the Trojans to NCAA finals in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024.
Thirty-four USC men’s water polo players have participated in the Olympics, and Trojans have collected over 250 All-America honors. Some of the prominent names in USC water polo history are Ron Severa, Wally Wolf, Charles Bittick, Greg Fults, Zach Stimson, Craig Furniss, Charles Harris, Robert Lynn, Drew Netherton, Hrvoje Cizmic, Marko Zagar, Simun Cimerman, Marko Pintaric, George Csaszar, Pedraj Damjanov, Bozidar Damjanovic, Juraj Zatovic (who in 2005 was USC’s first male winner of the Peter J. Cutino Award as the nation’s top collegiate water polo player), Juan Delgadillo, J.W. Krumpholz (2008 Olympian and two-time National Player of the Year) and Joel Dennerley (2011 Cutino Award winner), Peter Kurzeka, Nikola Vavic, Kostas Genidounias (2015 Cutino winner) and McQuin Baron (2017 Cutino winner). Both NCAA champions as Trojans, USC’s most recent Olympic medalists are Hannes Daube and Marko Vavic, who won bronze with Team USA at the 2024 Games in Paris.
2024 Season
2023 Season
2022 Season
2021 Season
2020 Season
2019 Season
2018 Season
2017 Season
2016 Season
2015Â Season
2014Â Season
2013Â Season
- National Champions
- WATCH: Uytengsu Aquatics Center Groundbreaking
- News
- Schedule/Results
- Statistics
- Roster
- Media Guide (PDF)
2012Â Season
2011Â Season
2010Â Season
2009Â Season
2008Â Season
2007Â Season
2006Â Season
2005 Season
2004Â Season
2003Â Season
2002Â Season
2001Â Season
2000Â Season
1999Â Season
1998Â Season
1997 Season
1996Â Season
1995Â Season
Bowls | Crosstown Cup | Facilities | George Tirebiter | Honda Winners | Jeweled Shillelagh | Olympians | National Titles | Sports Illustrated Covers | Sullivan Award Winners | Spirit | Tommy Trojan | Traveler | "Trojans" Nickname | USC Hall Of Fame | Victory Bell
Heisman Trophy Winners
Mike Garrett | O.J. Simpson | Charles White | Marcus Allen | Carson Palmer | Matt Leinart
