The "Golden Age" and Schubert Era (1972–1985)
In 1972, the club hired 23-year-old Mark Schubert as its head coach. Schubert's arrival marked a transformative period for the club, often referred to as its "Golden Age." He implemented a demanding, high-volume training regimen that was, at the time, revolutionary and became the standard for elite club swimming. This new program, backed by the Mission Viejo Company's resources, quickly attracted top-tier swimmers from across the United States who moved to Mission Viejo specifically to train with the team. [9] The results were immediate: the women's team won its first National Championship title in 1974. By the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, the Nadadores had become a dominant force, sending six swimmers to the games. These included Shirley Babashoff , who won a gold and four silver medals, and Brian Goodell , who won two gold medals and set two world records. In 1977, the club expanded its focus to create an elite diving program, building new platforms and springboards. This expansion included hiring notable coaches Ron O'Brien and Dr. Sammy Lee , which brought diver Greg Louganis to the team.
The club's dominance continued and peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s. In 1981, the Nadadores achieved an unprecedented "clean sweep," winning all six (Men's, Women's, and Combined) U.S. National Championship titles for both short course and long course. The apex of this era was the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where Nadadores athletes won 13 medals (10 gold). Swimmers from this team included Mary T. Meagher , Tiffany Cohen , and Dara Torres . In the diving well, Greg Louganis won two gold medals, while Michele Mitchell and Wendy Wyland secured silver and bronze, respectively. By the time Schubert departed in 1985 to coach at the University of Texas, his initial 13-year tenure had resulted in 44 national team titles, 124 individual national championships, and 21 world records. [9]
Coaching Transitions and Continued Success (1985–Present)
Following Schubert's departure in 1985, the team was led by Terry Stoddard from 1985 to 1992, who coached the team to an additional national championship in 1986. A significant organizational change occurred in 1992 when the Mission Viejo Company transferred ownership of the club to the newly formed Mission Viejo Nadadores Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. This new foundation, governed by a volunteer board (often composed of team parents), took over financial and operational control of the club. This change shifted the club's structure from a corporate-funded entity to a non-profit community organization, a structure that remains in place today. [2]
That same year, Bill Rose was hired as head coach, beginning a 25-year tenure (1992–2017). Rose successfully navigated the club's transition to a non-profit foundation, maintaining its status as a national competitor. During his leadership, the club consistently produced high-level athletes, including Olympians Larsen Jensen (2004 silver medalist in the 1500m freestyle and 2008 bronze medalist in the 400m freestyle) and Chloe Sutton (the first American to compete in both open water and pool swimming at the Olympics). Mark Schubert briefly returned as head coach from 2016 until 2022. He was succeeded by Jeff Julian, a former USC Trojans All-American and U.S. National Team member. [10] The diving program is directed by John Appelman. [11] The club has maintained its streak of placing at least one athlete on every U.S. Olympic team since 1976. [12]
