John Vargas is no stranger to success at Stanford University. In his 13 seasons as head coach of the Stanford men's water polo program, the Cardinal has reached the NCAA championship game five times, capturing the NCAA title in 2002 in his first season at the helm.
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 (1977-01).
Vargas' record at Stanford is 268-81 (.767) against the top collegiate competition in the country. He has led the Cardinal to the 20-win mark eight times, including each of the last two seasons.
Under Vargas' watch, Stanford water polo players have earned 61 All-America honors, including six in 2014, two national Player of the Year awards, four MPSF Newcomer of the Year nods and four league Player of the Year crowns. Three of his former Stanford players - Tony Azevedo, Peter Hudnut and Peter Varellas - represented the United States together as part of the 2008 and 2012 Olympic teams.
Recently, Vargas guided the Cardinal to a 26-4 mark in 2014, its highest win total since 1994, and the program’s first MPSF Championship since 2004. Stanford finished third at the NCAA Men’s Water Polo Championship for the second consecutive season and has made the national postseason tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time since it went five straight years from 2001 to 2005.
The Cardinal’s six All-Americans marked the second time that many of Vargas’ players have been acknowledged as the best in the country (2007) and is only surpassed in Stanford history by the program’s seven in 1986.
Alex Bowen wrapped up his impressive career on The Farm in 2014 as Stanford’s first four-time, first team All-American since Azevedo (2001-04). Bret Bonnani joined Bowen as a finalist for the Peter J. Cutino Award and the former was also a finalist for the FINA Men’s Water Polo Player of the Year, given annually to the world’s best player. In December, three-time All-American BJ Churnside was honored by the NCAA as the men’s water polo Elite 89 award winner, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 89 championships.
Prior to a 23-6 record in 2013, Vargas’ teams went 35-14 combined in 2011 and 2012 and featured back-to-back MPSF Newcomer of the Year honorees in Bowen (2011) and Bonanni (2012).
In 2008 Vargas guided the Cardinal to its first of two-straight 20-win seasons and to the national championship game for the first time since 2005. Stanford accumulated a record of 25-6 on the year and finished the season as the national runner-up. Jimmie Sandman became Stanford's first MPSF Player of the Year since Tony Azevedo took home the honor each year from 2001-04.
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 AWPCA National Player of the Year Azevedo and first team All-American Hudnut, 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 first team All-America selection.
In 2004, Vargas led 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 boys' 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).
Vargas has also enjoyed a long career with USA Water Polo as both a player and coach. He spent 10 years playing with the U.S. National Team and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games, helping the U.S. to a fourth-place finish.
During his international playing career, 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.
Vargas would then join the national team coaching staff from 1993-96, serving as an assistant coach at the 1996 Atlanta Games. Vargas would take the reins as the Senior National Team's head coach in 1997, a role he would hold through 2000 and at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
During his tenure, the national team took first or second place six times at national and international tournaments (first at the 1999 Pan-American Games, 1998 United States Cup, 1997 World FINA Cup; second at the 2000 UPS Cup, 1999 United States Cup, 1997 United States Cup). The team finished sixth at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where Vargas coached four-time Stanford All-Americans Wolf Wigo and Azevedo.
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).
Vargas and his wife, Dawn, live in Cupertino.