LA JOLLA, Calif. – Marko Djordjevic has been elevated to the position of associate head coach of the University of California San Diego men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs. David Marsh, who is approaching his second season as the UC San Diego head coach, made the announcement Thursday.
? NEWS ? @SwimCoachMarsh has elevated @SwimCoachMarko to the position of associate head coach of @UCSDSwimDive. ?♀️?? https://t.co/nlqaoW6kuY #GoTritons #UCSanDiego #Tritons #MPSFSwim #D2Swim
? Jack Spitser pic.twitter.com/0PShVpdftm— UCSD Athletics (@UCSDtritons) June 28, 2018
Djordjevic will be in his sixth year altogether on the La Jolla campus in 2018-19, having started as a volunteer in 2013 before moving directly into the role of top assistant coach in July of 2014. He added recruiting coordinator responsibilities ahead of Marsh’s initial 2017-18 campaign.
“Marko has had a huge impact on UC San Diego over the last five years,” said Marsh. “He’s made the most moving from volunteer, to assistant coach, and now associate head coach. I’m very proud to be in partnership with Marko as we move the Triton program forward.”
“I am both excited and humbled to continue my journey with the UC San Diego men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs as the associate head coach,” remarked Djordjevic. “It has been a dream of mine to lead our program together under the mentorship of Coach Marsh, and there is no better place to do so than at a school that has so much to offer.
“I want to thank David Marsh and Athletics Director Earl Edwards for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to building upon the rich tradition here by recruiting student-athletes of high character who embody the mission of UC San Diego, both academically and athletically. I can’t wait to see us compete in our new conference, the MPSF, and move the Tritons to Division I.”
With Djordjevic on the Canyonview Aquatic Center pool deck, the Triton men and women both won each of the past five Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference (PCSC) championships. UC San Diego announced just last week that it had joined the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), made up entirely of NCAA Division I opposition, effective immediately for this coming fall. The Tritons themselves will move to Division I following two more years at the Division II level.
Also under Djordjevic’s tutelage since 2013, UC San Diego has combined to post five top-seven team finishes at the NCAA Division II Championships, with most recently a seventh-place effort for the women last March in Greensboro, N.C. In Djordjevic’s five seasons as an assistant, Tritons have compiled two individual national champions, 130 All-America distinctions, 125 All-America honorable mentions, 80 PCSC individual champions, 31 PCSC relay titles, and no fewer than 51 school-record swims.
Djordjevic has prior coaching experience at San Diego club programs North Coast Aquatics and Pacific Swim, as well as having held numerous posts at the international level, primarily for his native country of Serbia.
UC San Diego begins its first season as an MPSF member this October, with its full 2018-19 competition schedule slated for release in the coming weeks. The swim portion of the 2019 MPSF Championships, featuring eight women’s teams and six men’s, will take place at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, Feb. 20-23, with the diving taking place Feb. 21-23 at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center in Pasadena.
The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with UCSD Athletics. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
So proud of being your countryman, Marko! ??
Bravo Marko ?♂️?
Bravo Mare!!!
In the world of athletics, the difference between triumph and turmoil often lies not just in talent or training, but in the psychological resilience of a coach. Marko, now at the helm of a collegiate team, finds himself under the unforgiving spotlight of expectations that come with the territory. It’s easy to shine when operating from a safe distance—no pressure, no scrutiny and shielded by the Hall of Fame coach David Marsh’s greatness. Yet, once one occupies the pivotal role, the heat of accountability transforms the atmosphere. This is where true character emerges, stripped of pretense and concealed weaknesses.
Initially, Marko may thrive on adrenaline, responding to the urgency of competition with instinctual reactions. Panic can trigger performances that seem impressive at first glance—quick decisions, fiery speeches, webcasts, a façade of control. However, as the stakes rise, so do the cracks in his leadership. Sustaining success under pressure requires more than reactive coaching; it demands a profound understanding of each athlete’s psyche, their limits, and the unique dynamics of the team. Unfortunately, it appears that Marko lacks this crucial insight.