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John Vargas is no stranger to success at Stanford University. In his six seasons as head coach of the Stanford men's water polo program, the Cardinal has reached the NCAA championship game four times. In his first season at the helm, Vargas led the Cardinal to the NCAA title. He is the fourth head coach in the history of the Stanford program, following Jim Gaughran (1969-73), Art Lambert (1974-76), and Dante Dettamanti from (1977-01). Vargas' record at Stanford is 123-39 (.759) against the top collegiate competition in the country. He has also led the Cardinal to the 20-win mark four times. Under Vargas' watch, 29 Stanford water polo players have earned All-America honors, including six in 2007, the program's highest total since 2001. Three of his former Stanford players, Tony Azevedo, Peter Hudnut, and Peter Varellas, represent the United States as part of its 2008 Olympic Team in Beijing. Last year, Vargas guided Stanford to a 17-8 regular season mark, a No. 4 ranking in the season's final national poll, and a 5-3 record in MPSF play that was good for third place. Among the team's victories in 2007 were a pair of wins over eventual national champion California, as Stanford handed the Golden Bears 10-9 overtime defeats at the SoCal Tournament in October and at the annual Big Splash. Six Cardinal players earned All-America honors, including sophomore Sage Wright being named to the ACWPC's First Team. In 2006, Stanford posted a 17-9 record, finishing fourth in MPSF play with a 5-3 mark, and fourth in the final national poll. Five players earned All-America honors following the season. From 2002-05, Vargas guided his Stanford squads to 20-win seasons as well as four straight NCAA title-game appearances. This run began in his debut season of 2002, leading the Cardinal to a 24-5 record and the program's 10th national championship and second consecutive. Behind the play of Azevedo, who earned the second of his eventual three consecutive National Player of the Year awards, and Hudnut, who joined Azevedo on the All-America First Team, the Cardinal boasted five All-Americans and pulled off the fourth back-to-back set of national titles in program history. The Cardinal would go on to post three consecutive national runner-up finishes from 2003-05, compiling overall records of 22-5 (2003), 23-5 (2004) and 20-7 (2005). Under Vargas' tutelage, Azevedo would capture national player of the year honors once more in 2003, before closing out his collegiate career in 2004 with his fourth All-America first-team selection, and Thomas Hopkins would earn All-America honors in each of the three seasons, culminating with first-team honors in 2004 and 2005. The 2004 season would also see Vargas lead the Cardinal to the first MPSF Tournament title of his tenure. Vargas came to The Farm from Southern California where he was the head coach for the boy's water polo and swim program at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach. During his tenure, Vargas' teams captured four CIF Southern Section 4A championships (1985, 1987, 1988, 1989) and three Southern Section Division II titles (1999, 2000, 2001). Also during that time, Vargas was the head coach of the United States Men's National Team (1997-2000). During his tenure, the national team took first or second six times at national and international tournaments (1st: 1999 Pan-American Games, 1998 United States Cup, 1997 World FINA Cup; 2nd: 2000 UPS Cup, 1999 United States Cup, 1997 United States Cup). The team finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where he coached four-time All-American Wolf Wigo and Azevedo. Vargas also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team from 1993-96 before assuming the reins head coach. Vargas graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in social science. As a four-year letterman with the Anteaters, Vargas helped lead the team to an undefeated 1982 season and the NCAA title. Vargas was a two-time All-American (1981, 1982). After leaving UC Irvine, Vargas continued his 10-year playing career with the U.S. National Team. During his career with the team, the U.S. finished no lower than fifth in eight national and international championships - including first-place at the 1991 World FINA Cup in Barcelona and second 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 United States Olympic Team, Vargas helped lead the Americans to a fourth-place finish in Barcelona. Vargas and his wife, Dawn, live in Cupertino. | |||||||||||||
