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Igor Samardzija Named St. Francis College Men's Water Polo Coach
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. -- Two-time Collegiate Water Polo Association New York Division Coach of the Year Igor Samardzija has been elevated by Director of Athletics Irma Garcia to head varsity coach of the St. Francis College men's water polo program.
“It is a great honor for me to become a member of the St. Francis family and to be given the opportunity to lead the College's most successful athletic program,” noted Samardzija. “I am truly excited about this position and will have trouble waiting for the official start of the season to justify the confidence AD Garcia has in me and the rest of the team."
He takes over the Terriers' program after being appointed an assistant coach at St. Francis in early May. Active in recruiting and assembling a schedule for the squad that includes two trips to the West Coast to face the nation’s top Division I College teams, he will look to continue St. Francis tradition of success.
Recognized in both the European and American water polo communities, he previously coached the club teams (men/women) at Columbia University where he led the Lions' men's team to the 2006 and 2008 New York Division Championships with 15th and 13th place marks at the National Collegiate Club Championships, respectively, hosted by Miami University and Ohio University. In women's competition, he guide Columbia to the 2007 New York Division title and a 15th place mark at the National Collegiate Club Championship hosted by Williams College. For his performance, he was named the 2006 men's and 2007 women's New York Division Coach of the Year.
“Igor comes to us with a
proven track record of success and more importantly, a deep
understanding of personal and pool dynamics," noted Garcia.
Licensed as a water polo coach by the Italian Olympic Committee,
he currently serves as a volunteer coach and referee at Asphalt
Green in Manhattan. Additionally, he has prior experience as an
assistant coach at Tent of Obrenovac, Serbia and played for both
Tent and Red Star of Belgrade, Serbia.
He replaces most recent coach Larry Naeve and Carl Quigley, who resigned this past winter after coaching the Terriers for 34 years, which included six Northern Division Championships and a trip to the NCAA Final Four in 2005.
"My mission is to prove that championship caliber water polo is played outside of California by eventually bringing the National NCAA title to Brooklyn Heights where it belongs,” stated Samardzija. “Our current roster is composed of the best available national and international talent. Their past performance and stellar academic success make me very optimistic for the future.”
Thanks to the St. Francis Department of Athletics; Release contains quotes originally published on www.sfcathletics.com
