Ivan Buich Takes the Helm as Boys Water Polo Head Coach
Santa Margarita Catholic High School is pleased to welcome Ivan Buich as Head Coach of the Boys Water Polo program. A proven leader with over a decade of experience coaching at the youth, high school, collegiate and semi-professional levels, Coach Buich brings a legacy of excellence, athlete development and championship culture to the Eagles' water polo program.
Coach Buich most recently served as an Assistant Coach at the University of Southern California, where he specialized in center player development, high-performance training and served as Head of Recruiting for USC Men’s Water Polo. During his tenure, the Trojans achieved significant success, including three consecutive MPSF championships (2022–2024), an NCAA Runner-Up finish in 2022 and 2024, and a semifinalist appearance in 2023. As acting head coach, Buich led the Trojans to a 3-0 record, including a commanding victory over UCLA in the 2024 MPSF Final.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Buich back to Santa Margarita,” said SMCHS Athletic Director Donald Evans. “His deep knowledge of the game, ability to develop athletes at every level, and commitment to character and academic excellence align perfectly with our mission. He’s a transformational leader who will elevate our program on and off the pool deck.”
Coach Buich’s roots in Orange County water polo run deep. From 2012 to 2024, he led age group teams at OCWPC and Patriot Aquatics, coaching over 85 athletes who advanced to NCAA competition and earning over 85 national tournament titles. His previous high school coaching experience includes a successful tenure at San Juan Hills High School, where he guided both boys and girls teams to CIF Finals, and an earlier stint at SMCHS from 2013 to 2015, during which he led the Girls team to a CIF Division II Championship.
“I’m honored to return to Santa Margarita and lead the Boys Water Polo program,” said Buich. “This school is special to me, and I’m excited to build upon its tradition of faith, excellence, and community. I look forward to mentoring our student-athletes to reach their full potential, in the classroom, in competition and life.”
Coach Buich holds a B.A. in History from Arizona State University and an A.A. from Golden West College. He is a certified kinesiology instructor, NCAA Coaching Development Specialist, and an active member of USA Water Polo.
