Highly acclaimed coaches.
Our elite coaches bring world-class expertise and an unmatched ability to propel your game to the highest, international level.
Andrei Kovalenko 'Kova'
3x Olympian | Bronze medallist
Magura Water Polo Academy’s founder and head coach, ‘Kova’, is one of Australia’s most accomplished and respected water polo coaches. A former Olympian with over 40 years of experience, he has developed athletes from junior levels to the world stage.
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Kova’s expertise in talent identification, performance analysis and elite coaching is unmatched in WA and widely recognised across Australia. His leadership, strategic knowledge and multilingual abilities have shaped some of the nation’s best players, making him a driving force in Australian water polo.
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John Fox ‘Foxy’
2x Olympian | 2x Olympic Coach
Former Australian water polo player with 383 national caps, Foxy competed at the Seoul and Barcelona Olympics.
As a coach, he led the senior men’s team from 2007-2012, securing 103 victories.
Foxy also coached at two Olympics, two World Championships and three World League Finals, guiding teams to success.
Tomaz Lasic
Australian Goalkeeper
With over 100 caps for Australia, Tomaz has won European and national titles as a player.
As a coach, he led the WAIS Women’s Program and developed top male and female goalkeepers.
Author of The Love of Goalkeeping, he established the world-wide Goalie Power program and manages the global water polo goalies’ community.
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Luke Pavillard ‘Pav’
Olympian
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A 2024 Paris Olympian, Pav is a rising star in Australian water polo.
Previously, he played for Atlètic Barceloneta, winning the Spanish National League three times.
Now a key player for the Australian national team and Fremantle Mariners, he is renowned for his exceptional left-handed skills.
Danielle Woodhouse ‘Danni’
Olympian | Gold medallist
Danielle won the inaugural Olympic gold medal in women’s water polo in Sydney 2000. She has multiple national titles and has represented Australia over 100 times.
As a coach, Danielle has worked with club and state teams and has frequently served as a specialist goalkeeping coach and mentor, guiding goalkeepers from junior levels all the way to the Olympic stage.
What elite athletes say...
"Kova coached me in my junior years and shaped me into the player I am today. His guidance secured my place on the men’s national team and a long professional career at home and abroad."
—AARON YOUNGER
3x Olympian
"Kova is highly respected and admired in the water polo world. He is a talented leader, master tactician and motivator who has achieved the ultimate success in water polo."
—TIM CLELAND
Olympian
“Kova has coached me across all levels of water polo. His world class knowledge and mentorship has given me the platform I need to achieve all of my goals. He has been paramount in my success."
—GEORGE FORD
2x Olympian
"Kova coached me at WAIS, Western Australia and the Australian junior level for nearly a decade. His guidance was instrumental in my success in the sport."
—JAMIE BEADSWORTH
2x Olympian
“Kova coached me from juniors to senior level, leading me to national titles and the national team. His expertise shaped me into the player I am today, earning a spot to play in Europe"
—TIM PUTT
Olympian
“Kova shaped me into the player I am today. From mastering fundamentals to analysing elite gameplay, he paved my path to success."
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—JOEL SWIFT
Olympian
“Kova is a fantastic coach who has the ability to improve all aspects the game. His programming for conditioning, skills, game knowledge and tactics is second-to-none."
—ANDREW FORD
Olympian
“Andrei Kovalenko, with nearly 100 tests for Australia (2006–2014), is the most influential coach I’ve had. He doesn’t just teach skills—he instills a deep understanding of the game."
——LUKE QUINLIVAN
Olympian