For Andrew Yanitsas, teaching may be his long-time job, but water polo is his passion. The current director of sport at St Catherine’s School Sydney, has coached his UNSW Wests Magpies to six of the last eight championships, including a three peat with the most recent titles.
A few weeks ago, Yanitsas led the Magpies to a thrilling 11-10 win over the Sydney Uni Lions to claim this year’s title, preventing the Lions from doubling up (their women’s team had won the championship).
Yanitsas, who is also an assistant coach for Australia’s men’s team, says that despite all the success, each title win is special in its own right.
“They have each been special for their own reasons,” he told Neos Kosmos.
“The first championship was especially sweet as it was reaching the pinnacle and battling any doubt. Each title came with its own set of challenges and the athletes in those teams have varied over time.
“So each one is uniquely special.”
The love for water polo runs in the family, with Yantisas’ wife Lea, being a polo player herself, having competed at the Olympics and World Championship stages.
Andrew once upon a time did play the sport too, and while he has been a very successful coach, that wasn’t the case while being in the water.
“I wasn’t very good. One of my coaches early on sort of said, ‘hey, maybe you’re best off coaching?'”
Yanitsas was studying teaching at the time, so it was almost a perfect fit to go into that role.
Yanitsas’ dad is from Kastellorizo and his mum from Kasos, who both came off the boat in the 1940’s from Egypt.
“I’ve got Aussie culture and Greek culture. Got the best of both worlds.”
In fact all his players will relay how proud of a Greek he is.
“All the boys will say, ‘here we go again with the Greek stuff’,” he laughed.
For the Magpies, Yanitsas coaches Chris Artemi (also team physio) and Sam Negus, who both played through the finals series, with Negus playing in the grand final win.
It’s not just his own players though, as he knows all the Greeks, even if it’s not all so noticeable. In fact the goalie of the Lions in the grand final was a Greek Australian too.
“I know pretty much all the Greeks playing…even if they’re quarter Greek, half Greek, mum, grandma, I know all that.”
“That’s all we talk about.”
Next for Yanitsas is national work. As an assistant coach for Australia, who has the world championships in Fukuoka, Japan in July.
