USA Water Polo has confirmed that coaches Adam Krikorian and Dejan Udovicic will lead the team through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The California-based governing body made the announcement of the contract extensions for Krikorian and Udovicic on Friday. This decision marks the first significant move under the leadership of Jamie Davis, who assumed the role of CEO of USA Water Polo on October 1.
Los Angeles holds a special significance as the epicenter of American water polo, and with the upcoming Olympics on home soil, the U.S. teams are poised to compete for gold. While Udovicic’s return was largely anticipated following his guidance of the U.S. men’s team to a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics, there were uncertainties surrounding Krikorian’s future after a disappointing outcome for the women’s team in Paris.
Reflecting on the accomplishments of both coaches, Davis expressed confidence in their abilities to lead the teams to success, stating, “Adam’s accomplishments are unparalleled, and under Dejan’s leadership in Paris last summer, our men won the program’s first Olympic medal since 2008. We have big goals on the journey to LA28, and I’m confident that Adam and Dejan will position us well for victory.”
Since assuming the role in 2009, Krikorian, 50, has led the U.S. women’s team to three Olympic gold medals and six world championships, establishing them as a dominant force in the sport. However, the team faced a setback at the Paris Games, finishing fourth after maintaining a streak of medaling in every women’s water polo tournament at the Olympics since its inception in 2000.
Following the disappointing result in Paris, Krikorian openly contemplated the possibility of a coaching change. Despite the challenges, Krikorian expressed his enthusiasm for continuing with the program, stating, “I am thrilled to continue to be a part of a program that has given so much to me personally and that has had such an enormous positive influence on the sport throughout our country and the world.”
On the men’s side, Udovicic, 54, has overseen a remarkable ascent since taking the helm in 2013. With standout players like Ben Hallock leading the charge, the U.S. men’s team is expected to be a formidable contender at the upcoming LA Games. Udovicic emphasized his belief in the team’s potential, stating, “We have an excellent core group of athletes that are entering their prime, putting us in a position to achieve what has been my goal since the day I joined USA Water Polo: reaching the top of the podium and winning a gold medal.”
Looking ahead to the future, both coaches are focused on the journey towards the 2028 Olympics, aiming to bring glory to the U.S. in the sport of water polo. The commitment to continuity and excellence in coaching underscores the dedication of USA Water Polo to achieving success on the world stage.
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