Sun Devils leading Sun Devils. It's proving to be a winning formula in Tempe, from athletic director Graham Rossini down to several ASU alums leading programs. That includes Petra Pardi, who's leading one of the nation's best water polo teams.
Pardi, the daughter of a water polo Olympian, was a natural in the pool and made her way from Budapest to Tempe to play for the Devils. She would go on to earn All-America honors, and after a brief year away from the sport after her collegiate career, she landed a spot on the ASU staff. She took over on an interim basis near the end of the 2022 season before being named the permanent head coach in 2023. Last year, she led the Devils to a 23-8 record, and heading into this season's home stretch, has ASU ranked No. 11 in the nation.
On this episode, we discuss her journey from Hungary to Tempe, how being a Sun Devil changed her life, assembling an international roster, building a winning program in the desert, and more.