John Vargas, who has established the Stanford men’s water polo program among the nation’s elite, completed his 20th season as head coach of the Cardinal in 2021.
In two decades on The Farm, Vargas has guided the Cardinal to a pair of NCAA championships (2002, 2019), seven NCAA finals (2002-05, 2008, 2018-19) and 10 NCAA appearances overall (2002-05, 2008, 2013-14, 2018-20).
Vargas has compiled a career record of 389-117 (.769) and is the fourth head coach in the history of the program, following Jim Gaughran (1969-73), Art Lambert (1974-76) and Dante Dettamanti (1977-01).
Vargas has directed the Cardinal to 11 seasons of 20+ victories, including a 26-4 campaign in 2014, which represented Stanford’s winningest season since a 27-1 finish during its 1994 NCAA title run. Stanford has also enjoyed conference success under Vargas, capturing five MPSF crowns (2004, 2014, 2018-20). Vargas was named the 2019 MPSF Coach of the Year, his third career honor after also receiving the award in 2004 and 2018.
Stanford has won the NCAA championship twice under Vargas, most recently in 2019 when the Cardinal defeated host Pacific 13-8 to conclude a 21-2 campaign in which it also repeated as MPSF champions. Stanford also claimed the NCAA crown during Vargas’ first season at the helm in 2002, edging California 7-6.
Under Vargas' mentorship, Tony Azevedo and Ben Hallock were multi-year recipients of both the Peter J. Cutino Award, presented annually to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate water polo player, and the NCAA/ACWPC National Player of the Year Award. Vargas has also coached Azevedo, Hallock and Jimmie Sandman to MPSF Player of the Year honors.
Cardinal players have earned 92 All-American honors during Vargas’ tenure, including at least three selections in each of the last five seasons. Stanford was recognized with six All-Americans in 2014 and 2015, surpassed only by the program’s seven honorees in 1986.
Stanford’s winningest season under Vargas was a 26-4 finish with an MPSF title in 2014, as Alex Bowen wrapped up his impressive career as the Cardinal’s first four-time, first-team All-American since Azevedo accomplished the feat from 2001-04. Bowen and Bret Bonanni were named Peter J. Cutino Award finalists while three-time All-American BJ Churnside received the NCAA Elite 89 Award, 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.
The Cardinal produced NCAA runner-up finishes in 2003-05 and 2008 despite winning 20 games in each of those seasons.
Vargas’ debut season in 2002 resulted in the second of two straight NCAA championships after Stanford won it all the previous year for the eighth time under Dettamanti, who retired in 2001.
Vargas has also excelled on the international stage 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, leading the U.S. to a fourth-place finish.
During Vargas’ 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 took 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 Vargas’ 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.
Three of Vargas’ former Stanford players – Azevedo, Peter Hudnut and Peter Varellas – were members of the Team USA squad that captured silver at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Vargas came to The Farm from Southern California, where he served as the head coach for the boys' water polo and swim program at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach. Vargas' teams captured four CIF Southern Section 4A championships (1985, 1987-89) and three Southern Section Division II titles (1999-2001).
Vargas graduated from UC Irvine in 1982 with a degree in social science. A two-time All-American (1981-82) and four-year letterwinner, Vargas helped lead the Anteaters to an undefeated season and NCAA title in 1982.
Vargas and his wife, Dawn, live in Cupertino.
| Year | School | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Stanford | 24-5 | NCAA Champions |
| 2003 | Stanford | 22-5 | NCAA Runner-Up |
| 2004 | Stanford | 23-5 | NCAA Runner-Up, MPSF Champions, MPSF Coach of the Year |
| 2005 | Stanford | 20-7 | NCAA Runner-Up |
| 2006 | Stanford | 17-9 | |
| 2007 | Stanford | 17-8 | |
| 2008 | Stanford | 25-6 | NCAA Runner-Up |
| 2009 | Stanford | 21-4 | |
| 2010 | Stanford | 15-8 | |
| 2011 | Stanford | 19-7 | |
| 2012 | Stanford | 16-7 | |
| 2013 | Stanford | 23-6 | |
| 2014 | Stanford | 26-4 | MPSF Champions |
| 2015 | Stanford | 22-8 | |
| 2016 | Stanford | 13-8 | |
| 2017 | Stanford | 19-5 | |
| 2018 | Stanford | 21-3 | NCAA Runner-Up, MPSF Champions, MPSF Coach of the Year |
| 2019 | Stanford | 23-2 | NCAA Champions, MPSF Champions, MPSF Coach of the Year |
| 2020 | Stanford | 6-4 | MPSF Champions |
| 2021 | Stanford | 19-6 | |
| 20 seasons | 389-117 (.769) | 2 NCAA Championships, 5 MPSF Championships |