University Southern California Trojans
USC Men’s Water Polo Adds Sasha Bucur and Alexandru Bucur As Assistant Coaches
September 09, 2025 | Men's Water Polo
The father-son pair have joined head coach Marko Pintaric’s staff for 2025.
USC men's water polo head coach Marko Pintaric has brought on two new assistant coaches for his program in Alexandru Bucur and Sasha Bucur. Sasha has served as a volunteer assistant coach for the USC water polo program in the past. He now assumes an assistant coach role alongside his son, Alexandru, who has collegiate playing experience as well as various coaching and support staff roles in the water polo world.
"These two are a great combination of maturity and youth to have on our coaching staff," Pintaric said. "Sasha has been a part of the USC water polo family for years, and Alex practically grew up around us. I am fortunate to have them to strengthen our program and staff."
A native of Sierra Madre, Calif., Alexandru is a 2024 graduate from Harvard, where he played all four years and earned a degree in economics. He has coached for LA Premier Water Polo Club, and volunteered with USA Water Polo and World Aquatics in coverage of several international competitions. An alum of Harvard-Westlake School, Alexandru served as an assistant coach for the Wolverines for a season. With LA Premier, he served as an assistant coach for the 18- and 16-under teams, and he helped guide the 14-unders to a bronze medal at the 2018 Junior Olympics.
Sasha most recently served as a volunteer assistant coach at USC from 2019-23. Prior to that, he coached the Trojan men from 1991-99 and with the women in their inaugural season in 1995. His coaching experience also includes time with Trojan Club and LA Premier Water Polo Club. A native of Bucharest, Romania, Sasha was a member of the Romanian Junior National Team, and his club team won the National Club Championships three times.
The USC men's water polo program has reached the NCAA Tournament for 20 straight seasons, with a run to the 2024 final in Pintaric's sixth year as head coach of the Trojan men.
"These two are a great combination of maturity and youth to have on our coaching staff," Pintaric said. "Sasha has been a part of the USC water polo family for years, and Alex practically grew up around us. I am fortunate to have them to strengthen our program and staff."
A native of Sierra Madre, Calif., Alexandru is a 2024 graduate from Harvard, where he played all four years and earned a degree in economics. He has coached for LA Premier Water Polo Club, and volunteered with USA Water Polo and World Aquatics in coverage of several international competitions. An alum of Harvard-Westlake School, Alexandru served as an assistant coach for the Wolverines for a season. With LA Premier, he served as an assistant coach for the 18- and 16-under teams, and he helped guide the 14-unders to a bronze medal at the 2018 Junior Olympics.
Sasha most recently served as a volunteer assistant coach at USC from 2019-23. Prior to that, he coached the Trojan men from 1991-99 and with the women in their inaugural season in 1995. His coaching experience also includes time with Trojan Club and LA Premier Water Polo Club. A native of Bucharest, Romania, Sasha was a member of the Romanian Junior National Team, and his club team won the National Club Championships three times.
The USC men's water polo program has reached the NCAA Tournament for 20 straight seasons, with a run to the 2024 final in Pintaric's sixth year as head coach of the Trojan men.
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