WEST CHESTER, PA – West Chester University and Head Coach for both Men's and Women's Swimming & Diving,
Steve Mazurek, announced the promotion of
Victor Polyakov to Associate Head Coach of the Golden Rams programs Monday.
A member of the West Chester coaching staff since the 2018-19 season, Polyakov has played an instrumental role in the continued success of the Golden Rams, contributing to the program's accomplishments at both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and NCAA Division II levels.
Since joining Mazurek's staff, Polyakov has been part of a coaching team that has helped guide West Chester to some of its finest performances on the national stage. The Golden Rams' women's squad finished third at the 2019 NCAA Division II Championships, marking one of the highest national finishes for the women in program history. The ladies followed that performance with a fifth-place national finish in 2023, highlighted by a runner-up finish by the 800-yard freestyle relay and a national championship performance by
Ann Carozza in the 200 butterfly, where she also established an NCAA Division II record.
A West Chester alumnus, Polyakov brings an impressive competitive résumé and a wealth of firsthand experience to his coaching responsibilities. One of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, he captured five NCAA Division II national championships across five different events during his collegiate career. He also held the national record in the 500 freestyle and maintained an undefeated record in individual events throughout all four years at the PSAC Championships.
Polyakov remains the only swimmer in PSAC history to earn Swimmer of the Year honors in each of his four collegiate seasons. He continues to hold five West Chester school records and four conference records. His accomplishments were further recognized in the fall of 2025 when he was named one of the PSAC's Top 150 Athletes of All Time. He was also nominated for the NCAA Top 100 Swimmers of the Century.
"Victor won't be outworked. He loved a challenge when he was an athlete, and it's no different now that he's on deck," said Mazurek. "He's an impeccable stroke technician, and he knows what it takes to compete at the national level. He's patient, kind and charismatic, and his athletes have a lot of confidence in his approach. His coaching philosophy works across all ages. He's obviously very successful at the college level, but he's just as effective with adults and youngsters in our summer camps."
In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Polyakov serves as West Chester's recruiting coordinator, pool manager at the Graham Natatorium and lead instructor for the American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification program. He also assists with the University's regionally recognized youth swimming lessons program, which serves hundreds of families throughout the surrounding community each year.
"Victor's done a great job recruiting athletes from all over the country and all over the world," Mazurek added. "His most-recent recruiting class is the deepest we've had in years. He has his hands in every aspect of the program – recruiting, fundraising, community service, facilities, and training. He represents the Golden Rams' values in everything he does."
Originally from Taganrog, Russia, Polyakov graduated from West Chester University in 2017. During his collegiate career, he was a two-time WCU Athlete of the Year and earned multiple College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Academic All-America honors.
Polyakov's promotion to Associate Head Coach recognizes his continued contributions to the Golden Rams' tradition of excellence, his commitment to developing student-athletes and his integral role in the ongoing success of West Chester swimming and diving.
