“Forget everything you know about Waterpolo” – Dejan Udovičić on Coaching Philosophy & Culture Change (Part 1)

In this episode of the Waterpolo Expert Talk, legendary coach Dejan Udovičić offers deep and honest insights into his journey from elite player to one of the most influential coaches in modern water polo. Having grown up and developed within the legendary Partizan Belgrade system, coached Serbia, Montenegro and later the United States, Udovičić reflects on culture, coaching philosophy, long-term planning and what truly defines success at the highest level.

Dejan begins by recalling his childhood in Belgrade, where water polo was not just a sport but a defining part of everyday life. Introduced to the pool at a very young age through his father and the Partizan environment, he experienced elite standards from the very first training sessions. Multiple sports shaped his early years, but water polo ultimately became the discipline that demanded the most structure, focus and commitment.

A pivotal moment in the conversation centers on the transition from player to coach. Udovičić openly admits that coaching was never part of his original plan. That changed when his lifelong mentor Nikola Stamenić gave him advice that would shape his entire coaching career:
to forget everything he thought he knew about water polo.

For Udovičić, this was a mental reset. Being a great player does not automatically make someone a great coach. Coaching requires a completely different perspective – understanding people, planning processes, reading development over years instead of moments, and seeing the game not from inside the water but from the outside. This “factory reset,” as he describes it, forced him to relearn water polo from zero, stripping away ego and assumptions.

The episode then explores Udovičić’s experiences across different cultures. Coming from Serbia, where winning is expected and pressure is constant, he later encountered very different environments in the United States. Rather than seeing cultural differences as obstacles, Udovičić recognized immense potential. He explains why the U.S. system, with its high school and college structure, guarantees participation numbers unmatched in Europe – while at the same time lacking the single-minded Olympic focus seen in traditional water polo nations.

Udovičić explains how his coaching philosophy evolved: long-term planning, talent identification at young ages, and the courage to make unpopular decisions. When he took over responsibility, he reduced squad sizes, cut experienced players in favor of high-potential athletes, and built a pipeline starting with players born in 1997 and younger. At the time, these decisions were criticized. Years later, they form the backbone of one of the youngest and most promising national teams in the world.
A key theme throughout the conversation is thinking ahead. Udovičić emphasizes that elite coaching is not about reacting to today’s results, but about anticipating how the game will look in two, four or eight years. In an era where data, video and scouting are globally accessible, the real advantage lies in staying one step ahead – tactically, physically and mentally.

He also addresses the challenge of convincing players, federations and entire communities to trust a long-term vision. Change, he explains, is always uncomfortable. But without courage, clarity and patience, no system can succeed sustainably.
The episode concludes with a clear statement of ambition: building teams capable of competing for medals at Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. For Udovičić, medals are not the starting point, but the result of years of structured work, cultural alignment and belief in the process.

This conversation is a masterclass in leadership, coaching mindset and system building, offering valuable lessons far beyond water polo.