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Coaching Staff
Todd
Spohn - Head Coach
Todd comes to Mission Viejo from
Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
where he coached both the
collegiate and club programs for
the past 20 years (1986-2006).
Spohn has been honored as the
MAC conference's diving
coach of the year eleven times.
Spohn earned his bachelor's
degree in 1986 and his master's
degree in sport studies in 1993,
both from Miami. During his
diving career at Miami, Spohn
was a six-time MAC finalist and
three-time NCAA Zone
Championship qualifier. Since
his graduation, Spohn has
competed and medaled
internationally at the Pan
Pacific Masters Diving
Championship. He also has
performed as a professional high
diver.
Spohn and his wife, Monica, live
in Mission Viejo. They have
three children: Hannah (20),
Andy (19) and Molly (16).
Janet Ely-Lagourgue -
Assistant Coach
Janet rejoined the Nadadores, bringing with her 20 years of
competitive diving experience, and 25 years coaching
experience. As a former two-time Olympian (1972 Munich,
Germany & 1976 Montreal, Canada) and World Champion (1975
Cali, Columbia), Janet has instructed divers as beginners
and developed their talents to Nationals and International
standings, winning numerous individual, as well as team
titles at the US National Championships and medalists at the
JO and Senior World Championships. As a result of her
coaching accomplishments, Janet has served on US Diving's
Technical Advisory Counsel, Skills Development Counsel,
International Rules Committee and served on the US Diving
Board of Directors.
Derek Starks – Assistant Coach
Derek has been a Nadadore since
1998 when he moved from Poway,
CA to join the National Team
under coach Hongping Li. During
his career with the Nadadores,
Derek acquired: 4 West JO
National titles, 4 JO National
titles, several international
medals and titles and other
national medals in the JO and
Senior levels. Derek recently
attended the University of Miami
(Coral Gables, FL) where he dove
under Olympic coach and former
Nadadore Randy Ableman with a
full athletic scholarship. Derek
is a three-time NCAA All
American, the 2004 BIG EAST Most
Outstanding Diver, the 2006 ACC
Diver of the Year and graduated
in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in
Business Administration. Derek
currently serves on the USA
Diving Board of Directors as an
Athlete Representative and as
the Chair to the Athlete
Representative Committee.
Cindy Adams - Assistant
Coach
Cindy joined the Nadadores coaching staff in September 2001
as a lessons instructor and in September 2002 she began
coaching the Novice Team. In February 2003 she created the
Bitty Bouncer competitive team for divers 7 years and under.
Cindy was a former gymnast and began diving at age 15. She
competed for UCLA from 1981-1985 and earned a degree in
economics. Cindy is particularly skilled at working with the
young athletes just entering the exciting world of diving.
You will find no one more friendly than Cindy and she is the
key to the future for our dive team.
Sammy Lee, MD - Coach
Emeritus
Dr. Lee, a prominent ear, nose and throat specialist and USC
Alumnus, assists the Mission Viejo Nadadores as a
consultant. Dr. Lee is world famous for being the first man
to win back-to-back Olympic Gold Medals in platform diving
at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. He is also the first man
to coach a diver to back-to-back Olympic victories (Bob
Webster, 1960 and 1964). He was an Olympic Diving Team Coach
during the 1960 and 1964 Olympic Games and coached Greg
Louganis, at the age of 16, to a silver medal on the 10
meter platform. Dr. Lee won the Sullivan Award as the
nation's outstanding athlete following his victory in the
1952 Olympic Games. Dr. Lee has also served four U.S.
Presidents on the President's Council for Physical Fitness.
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