Stoddard to Leave After 6 Years as Nadadores Swim Club Coach

MISSION VIEJO — Terry Stoddard, head coach of the Mission Viejo Nadadores swim club, will not return as coach in September, Alex Dean, president of the club’s board of directors, said Tuesday.

Stoddard’s position will no longer be funded by the Mission Viejo Company after Aug. 31. The company, which has funded the Nadadores program since its inception in 1968, will cease all backing at the end of August.

The financial responsibilities, including the coach’s salary, will be assumed by a foundation headed by Dean. He said a search is under way for a new coach.

“Terry has indicated that he plans to look elsewhere for a coaching position,” said Dean, who became president last September. “We’ll have a wide search, nationally and internationally.”

Although Dean said it is unlikely Stoddard would reapply for the job, he would not rule out the possibility. Stoddard, who is attending the Olympics, was unavailable for comment.

Stoddard has been the Nadadores’ coach since 1986. He took over a program that was already an international power and had produced several Olympians, who represented other countries as well as the United States.

The team continued to produce many top swimmers under Stoddard, but the Mission Viejo Company began to phase out its support of the swim team six years ago.

Dean said several coaches will work with the junior and senior national programs until a new head coach is hired.