Matt Michalko joined USA Water Polo in March 2023. Prior to USAWP, Matt’s professional background was in intercollegiate athletics marketing, with experiences at Georgetown University, Marquette University, and the University of Virginia. During his time in the NCAA, he worked with nationally-ranked programs for over a dozen different sports, driving ticket sales and attendance at home events. Matt’s responsibilities also included leading digital advertising efforts, sponsorship activations, and fan experience initiatives.

Matt played water polo at the high school and club levels growing up. He was a member of the Youth National Team and was named a Junior Olympics All-American. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California San Diego, where he was a four-year starter on the water polo team as well as a member of the Triton Athletes’ Council. After graduating from UCSD, Matt competed for club teams in Germany and Italy before going on to earn a master’s degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown.