“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. More about the
podcast: https://www.schulzekopp.de