Water polo: Vargas officially replaced

Richard Dunn

CORONA DEL MAR - John Vargas, U.S. Olympic men’s water polo coach

at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, confirmed Tuesday that he did not seek

to remain as the U.S. national team coach and former Yugoslavian and

Italian coach Ratko Rudic is Vargas’ predecessor.

Vargas, part of the seven-member selection committee that selected

Rudic, said the “parameters have broadened” for the job as U.S. national

coach the next four years, including “a lot more traveling ... it would

take me away from home a lot.”

Vargas, Corona del Mar High’s boys water polo coach since 1983, also

said the job has developed into “more of a full-time” position and

requires that coaches do not coach any other teams.

“It would have pulled me away from Corona del Mar and the club teams,”

said Vargas, who also coaches the CdM girls polo team.

Vargas, who said he will remain active in USA Water Polo, has guided

CdM’s boys water polo program to six of the school’s 11 CIF Southern

Section championships, including Division II titles in 1999 and 2000.

CdM’s boys finished 22-5 last season.

Vargas said his experience as U.S. national coach will only help the

CdM boys and girls programs.

The recently wed Vargas has said in the past he would like to spend

more time with his family.

Team USA finished sixth under Vargas at the 2000 Sydney Games.

“I’ll always be involved (with the national team) in some way or

another, and I’ll be available if (Rudic) wants to use me in some way or

another,” said Vargas, who played on the U.S. Olympic team at the 1992

Barcelona Games and served an assistant coach at the ’96 Atlanta

Olympics.

Vargas added that Rudic was “ratified by the men’s International Water

Polo Committee” Monday night, after the U.S. selection committee

recommended him for the position.