Steve VirgenWhen the season’s final horn sounded,...

Steve Virgen

When the season’s final horn sounded, the UC Irvine men’s basketball

team was left, once again, short of its goal of reaching the NCAA

tournament. For the third straight season, the Anteaters failed to

reach the Big West tournament’s title game.

This was not to say UCI did not enjoy a successful season, but the

Anteaters did not reach their ultimate goal. The UCI athletic teams,

which have for the most part become known for basketball, would have

received practically an indescribable boost had the Anteaters reached

their first Big Dance. But the ‘Eaters were at home while the music

played.

“We can have a successful season in terms of what we do within the

program, but the ultimate goal is to win that final game and get to

the NCAA tournament,” said Bob Chichester, UCI’s Athletic Director

who is in his first year. “Our men’s basketball program is very

important to what we do here, not only within the [athletic]

department, but we’ve seen how a successful basketball team can help

a campus. Our hope is that basketball continues to be one of our main

programs.”

Today’s Checking Out series highlights the status of the UCI men’s

teams and also other developments within the Anteaters’ athletic

department.

While the UCI men’s basketball team did not reach the NCAA

tournament, the program solidified itself as the sport that the

student body clearly identifies with and supports the most. Coach Pat

Douglass remains determined to improve that status and he knows the

NCAA tournament is the sure ticket to increase UCI’s popularity.

“We’re going to the NCAA [tournament] at some point,” Douglass

said shortly after UCI’s final game, a 61-55 loss to Utah State.

“It’s not something I’ll lose sleep over.”

Douglass, instead, has spent most of his nights and days

rebuilding a program that had been in shambles before he arrived. In

the season before Douglass’ arrival the Anteaters posted a 1-25

record. Then in Year Four of the Douglass Era, the meticulous coach

guided the ‘Eaters to a 25-5 record, a Big West regular-season title

and an NIT berth.

The 2000-01 season put UCI on the map and then the Anteaters were

co-champions of the Big West regular-season title the following

season. For the second straight year, Douglass was named the Big West

Coach of the Year.

Last season, Douglass helped produce the Anteaters’ third-straight

20-win season, an unprecedented feat, though one of the victories

came over Pomona Pitzer. The Anteaters lost two starters, Jordan

Harris and Mike Hood, to graduation, yet they are poised to remain as

one of the elite teams in the Big West.

UCI is also maintaining high expectations for its men’s volleyball

team which burst onto the scene with a No. 1 ranking for two weeks

early last season under the direction of first-year coach John

Speraw. The men’s soccer team, coached by George Kuntz, and Coach

John Savage’s baseball team have reloaded and are also prepared to

add to UCI’s success.

Chichester said communicating and familiarizing himself with the

coaches has been an important part of his duties during his first

year. The UCI Athletic Director assuredly got along well with Speraw.

“I appreciated being able to share first-year perspectives with

Coach Speraw,” Chichester said. “I also haven’t hesitated to just rub

up against his shoulder and tell him that I wanted some of his good

fortune to rub off on me.”

The UCI volleyball team finished the season ranked fifth in the

nation, its highest final ranking. The Anteaters also recorded the

best season in school history with a record of 20-11, 12-10 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

The ‘Eaters will be hard-pressed to duplicate their success but

Speraw and Chichester believe the 2003 team could be the start of a

tradition, which was also produced by Charlie Brande, who has been

the director of UCI volleyball since 1999.

The men’s team hopes to also repeat success with its fan

following. The Anteaters sold out Crawford Hall on more than one

occasion and drew a record 3,235 at the Bren Events Center. Next year

the UCI volleyball team will play its home matches in Crawford Hall,

which received renovation, including new seating that is now

complete.

Aside from the new seats in Crawford Hall, Chichester hopes to put

his stamp as AD at UCI by battling with the state budget and finding

ways to upgrade other facilities. Chichester said he wants to

refurbish the weight room and provide more office space for his

staff. Some coaches at UCI have to share an office.

Chichester is also planning to fine-tune the look of the UCI pool

and complete the construction of Anteater Ballpark, which is to

include a clubhouse, locker room and expanded seating.

The baseball team finished its second year last season after going

10 years without a team. The Anteaters endured injuries and a tough

schedule, but were still considered underachievers. However, Savage

remains confident that UCI will contend in the nationally respected

Big West Conference for years to come.

The men’s soccer team also had to deal with its share of injuries

and ended with a record of 8-8-4, 3-4-3 in the Big West, which should

serve as motivation for next season.

Chichester is intrigued by the future of the men’s golf team,

which won its third straight Big West title last season but lost

three key players to graduation.

“The incoming players have big shoes to fill next year,”

Chichester said. “But Paul has shown he can do this, so I’ll sit back

and let him do what he does.”

Chichester has similar feelings of his approach to the UCI water

polo team, which is coached by Ted Newland, who will enter his 38th

season this fall. Newland laid down the foundation for one of UCI’s

first traditions and continues to produce positive results.

Brian Pajer directs the swimming and diving team. Pajer was an

NCAA All-American swimmer for UCI in 1989 and 1990.

Coach Steve Clark’s tennis team would not mind reliving memories

of days past, but translating that success is difficult these days.

The Anteaters have a chance to build off their 12-10 season last

year. The 12 wins is the most for UCI since 2000, when the ‘Eaters

won 14.

Coach Vince O’Boyle’s cross country team, which showed much

promise last season, has been rebuilding in an attempt to become a

solid program that extends into track and field competition.

The Anteaters also compete in rowing and sailing. Duvall Hecht is

the director of men’s rowing and Mike Pinkney coaches sailing.