Vlad Polyakov

Vlad Polyakov, a three-time Olympian, World Champion, and NCAA Champion, has served as Auburn’s Associate Head Swimming Coach since May 2021. A highly respected technician and recruiter, Polyakov works alongside head coach Ryan Wochomurka to elevate the Tigers’ presence nationally and within the SEC. Since his arrival, Auburn has returned to national prominence with multiple NCAA top-10 program performances, All-America honors, and school-record swims on both the men’s and women’s sides. Prior to Auburn, Polyakov spent nine seasons on the Louisville swimming and diving staff, where he also served as the men’s recruiting coordinator. During his tenure, Louisville earned eight NCAA top-10 team finishes (five women’s, three men’s), captured 12 individual NCAA titles and one relay title, and produced multiple ACC Swimmers of the Year. In 2020-21, Louisville’s men matched a program-best fifth-place NCAA finish and won their first ACC Championship. As a swimmer, Polyakov competed collegiately at the University of Alabama (2003–07), where he was a five-time SEC Champion and two-time NCAA Champion in the breaststroke events. He remains the Alabama school record holder in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke and holds the SEC record in the 200 breaststroke. Internationally, he represented Kazakhstan in three Olympic Games (2004, 2008, 2012) and earned a FINA World Championship gold medal (2006, 200m breaststroke) and bronze medals (2004, 100m and 200m breaststroke). He was inducted into the Alabama Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame for his collegiate achievements. Polyakov and his wife, Mhyria, a former All-American swimmer at the University of Georgia, have two sons, Liam and Maksim.