Paden Mitchell has resigned as the boys water polo coach at Santa Margarita and been replaced by Olympian Jeremy Laster.
“Santa Margarita’s administration wanted to head in a different direction and I wasn’t interested in the role they offered me in the program,” Mitchell said in a text message recently.
“I am very thankful to Santa Margarita and the opportunity they gave me five years ago as a young, 22-year-old coach. I want to wish all the SMCHS boys water polo players future and past the very best!”
Laster, a former San Clemente standout, was an Olympian in 1996 and All-American at Stanford. He also coaches the 14-and-under boys at the O.C. club.
The Trinity League now features three coaches that were Olympians. Laster joins Mater Dei’s Chris Segesman (Long Beach State) and silver medalist Jeff Powers (UC Irvine) of St. John Bosco.
