University Southern California Trojans
Trojans Open National Title Defense This Weekend
September 07, 2004 | Men's Water Polo
Sept. 7, 2004
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LOS ANGELES -- The No. 2 USC men's water polo team opens the 2004 season this weekend with home nonconference matches against UC Irvine on Saturday (Sept. 11) at 2:30 p.m. and Pepperdine on Sunday (Sept. 12) at noon at McDonald's Swim Stadium. LOS ANGELES -- USC is ranked No. 2 in the men's collegiate national preseason Top 20 poll. JOVAN VAVIC -- In his 10th season as the head coach of the men's water polo program, Jovan Vavic has built the Trojans into a national power, which culminated with the 1998 and 2003 national championships. Last year, he was named National Coach of the Year and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year after leading the Trojans to the national title with a 24-3 record. Vavic came to USC as an assistant men's water polo coach to John Williams in 1992 and was named co-head coach in 1995. He took over the reins as head coach in 1999 when Williams retired. Vavic is also the head coach for the USC women's water polo team, winning national championships in 1999 and 2004. During the 1998-99 season, Vavic did something no other coach has accomplished as his teams won three national championships: besides capturing the 1998 men's and 1999 women's titles, his 1999 men's club team won the Men's Senior National Club Championship. Vavic has a 32-year water polo career. In addition to his coaching experience, he was a member of a Yugoslavian club team that was a four-time junior national champion (1973-74-76-77). Vavic also played for the Monte-Negro State team, which won the Yugoslav Nationals in 1977 and 1978. VAVIC'S CAREER RECORD -- Jovan Vavic has a 191-46 (.806) record with the Trojans. JURAJ ZATOVIC -- Junior two-meter defender Juraj Zatovic (Bratislava, Slovakia) led the Trojans in scoring last year with 57 goals, earning All-America and All-MPFS first team honors. He also was named 2003 NCAA All-Tournament first team after the Trojans won the national championship. JAMES SHIN -- Senior utility James Shin (Long Beach, Calif./Wilson HS) finished second in scoring last year with 44 goals, earning All-America third team honors. He was also named 2003 NCAA All-Tournament second team after the Trojans won the national championship.
