San Marcos High School Alumni
Santa Barbara, California (CA)
Terry Schroeder
Head coach of the United States men's national water polo team
What is Terry Schroeder known for?
San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara, boasts of its notable alum, Terry Alan Schroeder who was born in Santa Barbara, California on October 9, 1958. Schroeder has donned many hats throughout his life, including an award-winning water polo player, a coach, and a chiropractor.
Standing tall at 6 ft 2.8 inches (190 cm) and weighing 209 lb (95 kg), Schroeder has left a huge mark in the world of water sports. Besides his impressive physical presence, his energy and commitment took him to great heights in his sporting career. He competed in the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Summer Olympics.
Schroeder holds the impressive record of winning two consecutive silver medals representing the United States at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He received the honor to carry the national flag of the United States at the closing ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Furthermore, he transitioned from being a player to a coach managing to bag a silver as a coach for the United States men's national water polo team in 2008. This rare feat marked him as one of the few sports personalities who won Olympic medals as players and head coaches.
Beyond the pool, Schroeder displayed his academic skills and graduated from Palmer Chiropractic College – West in 1986. Embracing a different career path post his active sports career, he took to being a chiropractor, practicing at Agoura Hills, California. Concurrently, he has been the head water polo coach at Pepperdine University since 2013, where he also served from 1986-2005 before taking a break to coach the United States Olympic team.
Schroeder's contribution to water polo earned him spots in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame in 1999 and the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002, commemorating his lifetime achievements. A unique tribute to his contribution is the bronze statue (albeit headless!) standing atop a 20,000-pound post-and-lintel frame in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, created for the 1984 Summer Olympics.