Two-time Triton All-American Nick Alexander returned to UC San Diego in the fall of 2025 as an assistant coach with the women's water polo program..
Alexander has a plethora of coaching expertise across various levels, including collegiate and Olympic Development Team experience.
"It's an incredible honor to return to UC San Diego, a place that shaped me both in and out of the pool," said Alexander. "As a proud Triton alum, I'm thrilled to join the women's program and help build on its strong foundation. Working alongside Coach Sarah Lizotte, a close friend and fellow UC San Diego alum, makes this opportunity even more special. I can't wait to get started with this talented group and contribute to the continued growth and success of Triton water polo."
Most recently, Alexander served as the Technical Director and Age Group head coach for the Clovis Water Polo Club in California's Central Valley, a position he held since 2017. He was responsible for tailoring coaching methods through skill assessments, ensuring positive learning experiences and development. His teams posted top-12 finishes at Junior Olympics on an annual basis.
Since 2020, Alexander was the Director of Sport for Women's Water Polo and Women's Swim and Dive for the city of Clovis, Calif., where he developed and implemented a comprehensive training program to enhance athlete performance.
As head coach of the Olympic Development Program, he spearheaded the introduction of ODP camps in the Central Valley, facilitating access to vital resources like coaching expertise, practice plans, and skill development drills. He led the team to the 2025 national championship title, the first for the Central California Zone for the Youth age division. The year prior, he was tabbed Coach of the Year in USA Water Polo's Cadet age group.
In the collegiate realm, Alexander was an assistant coach at Fresno Pacific University between 2018 and 2020. While with the Sunbirds, he helped establish instructional plans for individual athletes and the team and aided in guiding student athletes' academic, personal, and athletic development.
As a four-year water polo scholar-athlete at UC San Diego, Alexander earned First Team All-America accolades in 2015 and again as a senior captain in 2016. He helped the Tritons lock down two NCAA Quarterfinal appearances as well as three Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) titles. In 2015, Alexander merited WWPA Championship MVP honors. He was also a two-time All-WWPA and All-WWPA Championship player.
Alexander graduated from UC San Diego in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications. He held minors in Business and Sociology. A three-time Academic All-American, he founded the NCAA Division I Student Leadership Group and was a member of the Triton Athletic Council.
Alexander earned a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific in 2020.
"I couldn't be more excited to bring Nick back home to UC San Diego," said Lizotte. "Being a Triton isn't just something you say - you live it, and Nick already understands that. As a UC San Diego men's water polo alum, he knows the pride, the standard, and the expectations here. I trust him, and I know he's going to help us set the tone and build the foundation for who we are and where we're going as a program."
