Brian Flacks was named the new head coach at Stanford University on March 23, just a couple weeks after Jon Vargas’ surprising departure. He’ll take over as the men’s varsity head coach, only the fifth in the history of that storied program which has won 11 national titles. That’s a lot, but not enough according to many observers who now look to one of the most successful high school coaches in America to bring more trophies back to The Farm in the coming years. We talk about those expectations, what he’s done in his short time on campus, and, fascinatingly, about resentment and how it quite ..read more

Last week’s news about a move by Washington & Jefferson men’s water polo team from the staid Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) to the mighty Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) struck like a thunderbolt. How can a DIII program at a small, highly-selective private college in Pennsylvania stay afloat against reigning national champions Cal, Stanford, UCLA and USC—among the country’s most competitive athletic programs? It won’t be the first time. In 2015, with the conference reeling from the defection of five member schools to a newly created men’s group in the Golden Coast Confe ..read more

Slipped into the hoopla surrounding the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) women’s water polo championship, won Sunday 11-9 by #2 Stanford over #1 USC, was an announcement notable for its potential ripple effect on often overlooked polo programs. [Stanford Claims Its First MPSF Crown Since 2014] In a statement last week, MPSF Executive Director Foti Mellis announced that the MPSF men’s bracket will be expanded by two: Augustana, a year-old DIII program in Illinois, and Washington & Jefferson, another DIII school located in polo-rich Northwestern Pennsylvania. “I am excited to welcom ..read more

In a surprising though not unexpected decision handed down last Friday, Jovan Vavic, the winningest water polo coach in NCAA history, was convicted by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of accepting bribes in conjunction with the massive college admissions fraud case commonly known as “Varsity Blues.” Sentencing for Vavic, now 60 years old, will likely be delayed as he is expected to appeal his conviction. USC men’s and women’s coach for 25 years and whose teams captured an NCAA-record 16 titles—ten men’s and six women’s—Vavic was abruptly fired in March 2019 due to accusations of complicity i ..read more

BARCELONA, SPAIN. It was like something out of a dream—albeit one where water polo is the star. A packed house in a stunning aquatic facility. Players including Marco Bijac and Filip Filipovic facing Daniel López, and Felipe Perrone. Fancy lighting effects and an announcer’s booming out each goal. Television cameras streaming the content throughout the ether on Eurovision. It’s LEN Champions League play, it happens every week throughout Europe, and it provided an unexpected delight during a brief trip to Spain. This was professional water polo—something barely imagined in the U.S.—a contest be ..read more

Editor’s Note: This past February 18 – 20, teams flocked to the Coral Springs Aquatics Center in South Florida after a COVID-19 break last year. The South Florida International Water Polo Tournament—now in it’s 19th year—saw a return to form, with teams from all over the region participating in one of the country’s premier youth water polo events. After the triumphal return of the South Florida International Water Polo Tournament—after a year off due to COVID-19—Michael Goldenberg is ready for a well-deserved rest. A FINA-certified referee who last summer whistled the men’s gold medal match ..read more

One of the most desirable—and visible—positions in American collegiate water polo is no longer vacant. Brian Flacks, currently the Harvard-Westlake High School boys coach as well as head coach of the U.S. 18U Youth team, has been named to lead the Stanford men. He replaces John Vargas, who unexpectedly resigned after two decades as Cardinal coach. [Being John Vargas] “We are excited to welcome Brian Flacks to The Farm to lead our men’s water polo program,” Bernard Muir, Stanford’s Director of Athletics, said in a statement. “Brian stood out throughout the interview process, and it became clear ..read more

As the conflict in Ukraine grinds on for a second week, the shock of armed combat in Eastern Europe has given way—at least in this country—to compassion for those most undeserving of chaos: children trapped by Russia’s brutal military assault against its neighbor. A young Russian now in New York City has decided to take a stand on the side of compassion. Demyan Kruglov, who resides in Brooklyn, is determined to make a positive difference in the lives of those he will (likely) never meet. That he is also a devoted water polo player—a sport quite well known to Russians and Ukrainians alike—is b ..read more

In the movie “Being John Malkovich,” the titular character’s mind is inhabited by a rag-tag bunch of friends and lovers to hilarious effect. One takeaway is that Malkovich, playing a satirical version of himself, is unknowable because his mind and actions are always being directed by others. This cannot be said of John Vargas, the head men’s coach at Stanford the past two decades, who this week announced his retirement from one of the most prominent jobs in American water polo. But for someone who has been opportunistic regarding career opportunities, the sudden conclusion of his time on The ..read more

A trip this weekend to California—for matches Friday and Saturday against four opponents—will provide LIU’s women’s water polo team critical feedback in its quest for the 2022 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) title and a trip to the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament. If their recent effort against Top-25 opponents #19 Princeton and #20 Harvard is any indication, the Sharks, ranked #22 in this week’s Collegiate Water Polo Association poll, possess ample talent and desire. As LIU Head Coach Gabby Juarez sees it, the wins will come… in time. “This is a good learning moment for us, ear ..read more