Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Water Polo Coach John McBride to Step Down After 2026-27 Season
8/25/2026 1:18:00 PM | Men's Water Polo, Women's Water Polo
LEWISBURG, Pa. – John McBride, the winningest head coach in Bucknell water polo history, has announced his upcoming resignation, effective following the 2026-27 season. The Bison mentor since 2011, McBride will step down after the conclusion of the women's season in the spring as he transitions into a full-time role as an assistant coach with the United States Men's National Team.
Vice president for athletics and recreation Tim Pavlechko will announce McBride's successor in the spring. McBride will be on deck for the 2026 men's season this fall and the 2027 women's campaign in the spring, marking his 16th year in charge of the Bucknell programs. Associate head coach Arturo Villalpando is entering his ninth year as McBride's lead assistant and will continue in his prominent role with both teams this season.
McBride has logged 434 combined wins at Bucknell, 238 with the men's team and 196 with the women's team. Both victory totals are program records.
"We look forward to spending this coming year celebrating John's leadership and the passion he has poured into the Bison water polo programs over the last 16 years," said Pavlechko. "John has coached his teams to countless exhilarating moments in the pool, while instilling the scholar-athlete ideal we prioritize at Bucknell. When his Bucknell career concludes this spring, I wish him the very best with the U.S. National Team and look forward to cheering them on at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028."
McBride has an extensive background with the U.S. National Team, and for the last four years he has been an assistant coach with the U.S. Senior Men's Team. The squad captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Chile in November 2023, and then the Stars and Stripes captured bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the USA's highest finish and its first medal since 2008. He will now turn his attention to a full-time role with Team USA and will be on deck again at the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Bucknell and the Lewisburg community have provided an amazing experience for me and my family," said McBride. "Both of my daughters went to school in Lewisburg, and it is because of the education system in this town that they are doing great things. Bucknell has been incredibly supportive of the water polo program. We have had a tremendous amount of success on both teams, and it has been for a few reasons. The first is the athletes. They have been amazing people to coach and build relationships with. I will miss them the most. The alumni have been incredibly supportive. They show up to games, they support us financially, and they genuinely care about the programs they helped to build. Lastly are the coaches. There are several extremely professional coaches that I have enjoyed being around. They have mentored me in ways I could never forget.
"The U.S. Olympic Team has been a dream of mine since I saw my first Olympics. The Olympics in Paris were amazing. Winning the bronze medal was incredible. This next Olympics is at home. I may never see another home Olympics in my lifetime. It's important that I give this opportunity 100 percent of my effort so we can bring home the gold and hear the greatest national anthem of the greatest country in the world played on the medal stand. I want to thank my wife Sam for being my biggest supporter. I want to thank Tim Pavlechko for his leadership and support of the program, and lastly, I want to thank Dan and Chris Richards. Dan and Chris have supported me, my family, and these programs unlike any other. They are more than alums. They are family and will be a part of our lives forever."
McBride has guided some of Bucknell's most successful water polo teams. He led the men's squad to the 2012 Southern Championships title and the program's first Eastern Championship title game appearance in nearly 20 years. In 2016, McBride led the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985 after winning the MAWPC Championship in Kinney Natatorium. In 2019, McBride led the program to one of its finest seasons in program history after winning its second MAWPC Championship in four years. The Bison went on to defeat previously undefeated Harvard in Cambridge in the NCAA Tournament play-in game, before bowing out to USC in the national quarterfinals. The Bison's win in the NCAA Tournament was the program's first since the 1985 season. Bucknell returned to the NCAA Tournament in the COVID-abbreviated 2020-21 season, once again reaching the final eight.
On the women's side, McBride's teams annually take on extremely challenging schedules that have featured numerous ranked foes. In 2015, McBride led the women to their first .500 record since 2010 as the squad saw its win total rise for the second consecutive year. The Bison improved even more in 2016 as the win total soared to 18, the highest number for Bucknell since 2009. The Bison finished in fifth place at the CWPA Championship, their best showing since 2010. McBride was named the CWPA Coach of the Year following the regular season, making him the first Bison coach to be named Coach of the Year since 2010. In 2019, McBride led the team to 25 wins, one shy of the school record, and a third-place finish at the CWPA Championship, the highest finish in team history.
On Feb. 2, 2019, McBride reached 100 wins with two different programs after a 16-6 win over La Salle. The Bison women also began the 2020 season with a 10-1 start, the best in program history, before the season was cut short due to the pandemic.
McBride has recruited and developed multiple All-Americans during his tenure at Bucknell. The most prominent was Rade Joksimovic, a four-time All-American and MAWPC Player of the Year who was one of three finalists for the 2020 Cutino Award, which is given to the national player of the year. Joksimovic became the sport's first First Team All-American from a school outside the state of California.
The Bucknell men's water polo team opens its 2026 campaign in San Diego this weekend. The Bison will be tested early against the likes of UCLA, Long Beach State, UC San Diego, Occidental, and St. Mary's at the Triton Invitational.
Vice president for athletics and recreation Tim Pavlechko will announce McBride's successor in the spring. McBride will be on deck for the 2026 men's season this fall and the 2027 women's campaign in the spring, marking his 16th year in charge of the Bucknell programs. Associate head coach Arturo Villalpando is entering his ninth year as McBride's lead assistant and will continue in his prominent role with both teams this season.
McBride has logged 434 combined wins at Bucknell, 238 with the men's team and 196 with the women's team. Both victory totals are program records.
"We look forward to spending this coming year celebrating John's leadership and the passion he has poured into the Bison water polo programs over the last 16 years," said Pavlechko. "John has coached his teams to countless exhilarating moments in the pool, while instilling the scholar-athlete ideal we prioritize at Bucknell. When his Bucknell career concludes this spring, I wish him the very best with the U.S. National Team and look forward to cheering them on at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028."
McBride has an extensive background with the U.S. National Team, and for the last four years he has been an assistant coach with the U.S. Senior Men's Team. The squad captured the gold medal at the Pan American Games in Chile in November 2023, and then the Stars and Stripes captured bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the USA's highest finish and its first medal since 2008. He will now turn his attention to a full-time role with Team USA and will be on deck again at the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Bucknell and the Lewisburg community have provided an amazing experience for me and my family," said McBride. "Both of my daughters went to school in Lewisburg, and it is because of the education system in this town that they are doing great things. Bucknell has been incredibly supportive of the water polo program. We have had a tremendous amount of success on both teams, and it has been for a few reasons. The first is the athletes. They have been amazing people to coach and build relationships with. I will miss them the most. The alumni have been incredibly supportive. They show up to games, they support us financially, and they genuinely care about the programs they helped to build. Lastly are the coaches. There are several extremely professional coaches that I have enjoyed being around. They have mentored me in ways I could never forget.
"The U.S. Olympic Team has been a dream of mine since I saw my first Olympics. The Olympics in Paris were amazing. Winning the bronze medal was incredible. This next Olympics is at home. I may never see another home Olympics in my lifetime. It's important that I give this opportunity 100 percent of my effort so we can bring home the gold and hear the greatest national anthem of the greatest country in the world played on the medal stand. I want to thank my wife Sam for being my biggest supporter. I want to thank Tim Pavlechko for his leadership and support of the program, and lastly, I want to thank Dan and Chris Richards. Dan and Chris have supported me, my family, and these programs unlike any other. They are more than alums. They are family and will be a part of our lives forever."
McBride has guided some of Bucknell's most successful water polo teams. He led the men's squad to the 2012 Southern Championships title and the program's first Eastern Championship title game appearance in nearly 20 years. In 2016, McBride led the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1985 after winning the MAWPC Championship in Kinney Natatorium. In 2019, McBride led the program to one of its finest seasons in program history after winning its second MAWPC Championship in four years. The Bison went on to defeat previously undefeated Harvard in Cambridge in the NCAA Tournament play-in game, before bowing out to USC in the national quarterfinals. The Bison's win in the NCAA Tournament was the program's first since the 1985 season. Bucknell returned to the NCAA Tournament in the COVID-abbreviated 2020-21 season, once again reaching the final eight.
On the women's side, McBride's teams annually take on extremely challenging schedules that have featured numerous ranked foes. In 2015, McBride led the women to their first .500 record since 2010 as the squad saw its win total rise for the second consecutive year. The Bison improved even more in 2016 as the win total soared to 18, the highest number for Bucknell since 2009. The Bison finished in fifth place at the CWPA Championship, their best showing since 2010. McBride was named the CWPA Coach of the Year following the regular season, making him the first Bison coach to be named Coach of the Year since 2010. In 2019, McBride led the team to 25 wins, one shy of the school record, and a third-place finish at the CWPA Championship, the highest finish in team history.
On Feb. 2, 2019, McBride reached 100 wins with two different programs after a 16-6 win over La Salle. The Bison women also began the 2020 season with a 10-1 start, the best in program history, before the season was cut short due to the pandemic.
McBride has recruited and developed multiple All-Americans during his tenure at Bucknell. The most prominent was Rade Joksimovic, a four-time All-American and MAWPC Player of the Year who was one of three finalists for the 2020 Cutino Award, which is given to the national player of the year. Joksimovic became the sport's first First Team All-American from a school outside the state of California.
The Bucknell men's water polo team opens its 2026 campaign in San Diego this weekend. The Bison will be tested early against the likes of UCLA, Long Beach State, UC San Diego, Occidental, and St. Mary's at the Triton Invitational.
Sunday, August 23
Friday, August 21
Friday, August 21
Thursday, August 20