Vargas takes Stanford job

STANFORD - John Vargas, who served as head coach of the United

States Men’s National Team (1997-2000), will be the new head coach for

the Stanford men’s water polo program, effective New Year’s Day.

“We are very excited about the Stanford Water Polo program,” said

Stanford Athletic Director Dr. Ted Leland. “We have a very talented team

this season and the NCAA Championship will take place at Stanford. With

the hiring of John Vargas to replace Dante Dettamanti at the end of this

season, the future of Stanford water polo is in excellent hands. John has

a great water polo mind and has the energy and vision to build the

program to even greater heights.”

Vargas is currently the head coach of the boys and girls water polo

programs at Corona del Mar High, and will finish out the current boys

season before heading for Palo Alto.

“He just hit me with it yesterday,” said CdM Athletic Director Jerry

Jelnick. “We’ll have to first look for a girls water polo coach, then a

boys coach, or possibly both.”

During his tenure at Corona del Mar, Vargas has coached the water polo

team to four CIF 4-A Southern Section championships (1985, 1987, 1988 and

1989) and two Division II crowns (1999 and 2000).

Vargas is a product of UC Irvine, where he graduated in 1997. As a

four-year letterman with the Anteater varsity, Vargas helped lead the

team to an undefeated 1982 season and the NCAA championship. Vargas was a

two-time All-American in 1981 and ’82.

After UCI, Vargas played on the U.S. National Team for 10 years and

helped the U.S. finish no lower than fifth place in eight national and

international championships, including first place at the 1991 World FINA

Cup Team in Barcelona, and second place at the 1983 World University

Games in Edmonton, the 1986 Goodwill Games in Moscow, and the 1991 Pan Am

Games in Cuba.

As a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Team., Vargas helped lead the

Americans to a fourth-place finish in Barcelona.

Vargas and his wife, Dawn, are expected to leave their Newport Beach

residence for the Bay Area some time in December.