Still on the trail

Don Cantrell

The lofty standards of Al Irwin, former UCI athletic director, have

endured since his early days of learning sports at the knees of the late

Ralph Reed and the late Amos Alonzo Stagg.

Outside prep and college summer years, old friends struggle trying to

recall if he ever applied for jobs after his mid-’40s coaching

assignments at Antioch and Valencia high schools.

Only one recall arose from 1947 as a near exception when Irwin

considered applying for the athletic director’s post at Orange Coast

College. Since Irwin has returned from the Navy as a flight deck officer,

was a longtime local resident and athlete and would carry a strong

recommendation from the famed Stagg, he felt it was worth a try.

However, he pondered on the possibility that the late Wendell Pickens

at Harbor High might be angling for the position. Hence, he phoned

Pickens and learned that it was true and that he “wanted the job in the

worst way.” so, Irwin bowed away and let it pass.

Pickens drew the OCC offer from Dr. Basil Peterson and took charge in

1948 while Irwin was then approached by his alma mater, Harbor High, to

replace Pickens as head football coach.

Another ironic element surfaced about eight years later when the grid

post opened at OCC and Peterson called on Irwin in 1956.

Although Irwin led OCC to a conference championship and a Potato Bowl

bid by the fall of ‘56, sad news came from his doctor on needed medical

attention and so he bailed out of the grid sport after many years.

Showing compassion for Irwin’s problem, Peterson disclosed that he

would be allowed to continue on as the college’s director of water

sports.

Numerous championships and honors followed, but after some years he

was approached by a distinguished gentleman from the stands at one meet,

but had no idea what to expect. The man was impressed with his work and

invited him to accept a bid from the University of California, Irvine.

Irwin accepted a similar post.

Familiar success continued on a grand scale and Irwin was eventually

named to the athletic director’s post where he advanced to serve in an

exceptional manner.

As the years passed, Irwin had the opportunity to have breakfast once

a week with his prep athletic director Reed. They had been close friends

since 1930 when Reed would cart him and other grade students to Harbor

High to explore the athletic facilities.

Tragic news came in 1985 when Reed apparently lost control of his

Cadillac and crashed into a steel pole on one freeway offramp in Santa

Ana.

And it is noteworthy to mention that the famed Stagg also remained in

touch with Irwin until his dying days. Stagg always had warm admiration

for Irwin’s lovely wife, Lois, and their two daughters. Stagg had sent

the girls gifts when they were young.

One more interesting job that Irwin carried out for Stagg around 60

years ago was scouting a game for College of the Pacific and winding up

side-by-side with a famous coach named “Pop” Warner, who was also

scouting the same game.

Stagg appeared one night years later to show his support for Irwin’s

champion OCC team at the Potato Bowl in Bakersfield, but noted that he

had to spend another half across the field to support his employer,

Stockton College. Stockton won, 21-12.

It is always interesting to note that Stagg was a longtime friend of

the George Yardley, Sr. family via Chicago. The Yardleys eventually moved

to Hollywood in the late ‘30s, then to Newport Beach. Stagg would have

been cheered had he lived to see George, Jr. named to the NBA Hall of

Fame after his years of play for the Pistons of the NBA.

George Yardley, Sr. had played basketball and baseball under Stagg at

the University of Chicago.

Some old friends still recall a picture or two of Irwin attending

church on Sundays with the Staggs. The spiritual influence was strong.