One of the nation’s most accomplished water polo coaches is joining AquaTex Waterpolo Club.
Sasa Branisavljevic, founder of Vanguard Aquatics and former Head Coach at Huntington Beach High School, has agreed to an assistant coaching position with the club. He will begin his work with AquaTex athletes in the coming weeks.
The Subotica, Serbia native founded Vanguard in 2013 and since then has molded the club in to one of the most successful and recognized in the US, with 30 Junior Olympics trophies and two USA Water Polo Chairman’s Cups, awarded to the the top male water polo program in the United States.
He and his family, including two young children, have re-located to Pflugerville where Coach Sasa will pursue a career in firefighting while also sharing his considerable skills with AquaTex; in particular, working with our youngest athletes, providing training and planning advice, and pursuing growth opportunities for the club in his new home town and others in the Round Rock area.
More on Coach Sasa from Vanguard’s web site:
Sasa is a seminal figure in the American water polo landscape, distinguished not only for his individual accomplishments but also for his transformative impact on the sport. As the Founder of Vanguard Aquatics, alongside his fellow coaches, he has helped built one of the most formidable water polo powerhouses in the country. Vanguard Aquatics has twice received the USAWP Chairmans’ Cup, an award recognizing it as the top male water polo program in the United States. Sasa oversees all aspects of the program, including coaching, administration, practice programming, and staff development, all while ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants by rigorously enforcing board policies.
Sasa’s journey in the sport began at the age of 8 in Subotica, Serbia, laying the groundwork for an illustrious career that would span continents and diverse levels of competition. During his youth, he gained valuable experience in Serbia’s First League and became the youngest player to join Spartak’s professional team at just 16. While with Spartak, the team secured a coveted spot in the Len Cup, a top-tier European club championship.
In 2009, Sasa transitioned to a coaching role at Huntington Beach High School, one of the most esteemed high school water polo programs in the United States. Elevated to head coach in 2015, Sasa has become the most decorated coach in the school’s history. Under his stewardship, the team reached the CIF Division I finals in 2016 and 2021 and clinched four Sunset League Championships in 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021. Sasa has been instrumental in elevating Huntington Beach High School to a top nationally-recognized water polo institution in California. He’s instilled a culture of academic and athletic excellence, and has been a vital force in assisting student-athletes during the recruitment process for prestigious university programs. A number of his former players have ascended to the Junior and Senior National Teams.
Despite a demanding professional life, Sasa is a devoted family man, blessed with a loving wife and two children. This harmonious blend of personal and professional commitments enriches his holistic coaching philosophy, which places equal emphasis on athletic prowess, emotional resilience, and teamwork.
Branisavljevic joins AquaTex as the club has experienced its most substantial growth since being formed in 2013. Coach Sasa will join new Head Coach Max Staresinic in helping craft and expand AquaTex programming to Westover Hills Club in Austin, where training will begin in the coming months. The club winds up 2023 with more athletes of the broadest range of ages since its foundation with aims at yet more growth and quality in 2024.
