Boys water polo: Salvino replaces Vargas

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Tim Salvino, who spent the last six seasons as a

varsity assistant to departed John Vargas, was named Monday to replace

Vargas as the Corona del Mar High boys water polo coach.

Salvino, 36, said he was thrilled to be taking over one of the most

esteemed prep programs in a hot bed of water polo, at which Vargas, now

the men’s coach at Stanford, produced seven CIF Southern Section

championships and four section runner-up finishes in 19 seasons at the

helm, including Division II crowns the last three seasons.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Salvino, who teaches fourth grade at

Newport Heights Elementary but hopes to eventually land a teaching job at

CdM. “It’s what I’ve been working for and what I’ve been grooming myself

for and, fortunately, things worked out in my favor.”

Salvino, who filled in as head coach on several occasions when Vargas’

commitment to the U.S. men’s national team took him away, said he will

strive to continue the program’s strong tradition.

“The challenge for me is to maintain the level of excellence and to

even take it to a higher level,” Salvino said, making specific reference

to the Sea Kings return to the Division I ranks next season.

Salvino, who in his second season as head coach at Tustin High guided

the Tillers to the 1994 CIF Division II semifinals, is also one of two

coaches for the U.S. Water Polo Zone 7 (roughly Southern California,

excluding San Diego) youth team.

Salvino said CdM players should expect a smooth transition.

“We will play the same system the program has had the last 19

seasons,” he said, noting, like any new coach, he plans to inject his own

personality into the job.

Salvino, wife Carrie and 9-year-old son Derek reside in Costa Mesa.