University of the Pacific men’s water polo alumni Alex Obert ’16 has returned to his alma mater this season as general manager, a newly created position designed to bolster the team’s recruiting efforts.

Obert, an engineering graduate and three-time Olympian, is the first collegiate general manager in the nation in the sport of men’s water polo. The Team USA veteran most recently captured a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, adding to his previous appearances in the 2020 Tokyo and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“Having Alex return to Pacific as the first-ever general manager in college water polo is a monumental step forward for the sport,” said Head Coach James Graham. “I had the privilege of coaching Alex from 2011 through 2015, and few people embody the blend of elite athleticism, professionalism and intellect the way he does.” 

As a senior at Pacific in 2015, Obert was a finalist for the Peter J. Cutino Award, which is awarded to the best men’s water polo player in the country. He was also an All-America First-Team, All-Conference First-Team and All-Academic First-Team selection after tallying 54 goals and 10 assists.

“I’m thrilled to give back to the program that shaped so much of my life and to be back working alongside Coach Graham,” Obert said. “He’s always been a visionary in our sport and creating a role like this is yet another example of him pushing boundaries of what’s possible in water polo.”

Obert was an All-American in 2013 and helped the Tigers reach the national finals. That season included a win over Stanford in the national semifinals and a victory over UCLA in the conference championship game of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Obert credits Graham with not only with shaping his own water polo career, but also for his forward-thinking approach to the sport.

“Coach Graham is just different in the way he looks at the world, and he thinks of water polo at a higher level than most coaches,” Obert said. “He saw other high-level programs, mostly in football and basketball, hiring general managers. He called me knowing that I was itching to be involved, and I couldn’t say no. I’m super excited to give back to a program that has given me so much and to step into this role.”

Obert won two gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2015 and 2019 and a silver in the 2016 World League. He scored 10 goals at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima. He also competed at the World Championships four times in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

In 2020, the center-forward played professionally in Croatia with Jug Dubrovnik, one of the top clubs in the world. It came after a season with Hydraikos in Greece in 2019.

“Alex brings a global perspective and a champion’s mindset, and his analytical background is a perfect match for our data-driven program. His return is not only a homecoming—it’s a game-changer,” Graham said.

Men’s water polo season is already underway. The first home game is Friday, Sept. 12 when the Tigers host Cal at the Douglass M. Eberhardt Aquatics Center. See the full men's water polo schedule.