September 13, 2007

Serrano’s decision upsets UCI

TIM BURT PRESS BOX

It’s likely that the UC Irvine-Cal State Fullerton baseball rivalry, already pretty heated, is going to be downright fiery when the two teams meet next season.

It’s all because of Dave Serrano’s decision to become the Titans’ next baseball coach, replacing George Horton, who took the job at University of Oregon.

No one can blame Serrano, who coached at UCI for the past three years, for wanting to coach at Fullerton, where he was the pitching coach for eight years prior to taking the UCI job in 2004.

Serrano believes that this is his dream job. What is troubling is how Serrano handled the whole matter.

On Aug. 31, Serrano asked UCI officials to release a statement which detailed his intention to remain at Irvine.

“I have no interest in leaving UC Irvine for Cal State Fullerton,” Serrano said in the release. “I feel we have something special building at UCI with the program moving in the right direction. Fullerton is a great program and I have many enjoyable memories from there, but my family and I are very happy in Irvine.”

Then, less than two weeks later, Serrano was introduced as the new Fullerton coach.

When we interviewed Serrano in the summer, he seemed very comfortable at UCI and was very proud of the Anteater Ballpark and the Newkirk Pavilion, which is a first-class clubhouse. Serrano seemed excited about the prospects for the future.

It was a remarkable run for UCI, which advanced to the College World Series for the first time in school history. But it was also clear Serrano was concerned about the direction UCI athletics was going.

The department has been without a permanent athletic director since Bob Chichester resigned (Paula Smith is serving as interim director) and there have been indications that the university is de-emphasizing athletics.
Wednesday afternoon, UCI officials released a statement.

“The position has been posted and we are conducting an open, national search,” said Smith. “We will proceed in an expeditious, but thorough manner to ensure that our baseball program continues to move forward under capable leadership.”

It appears that UCI officials believed that Serrano was staying, so they feel betrayed and upset at Serrano.

The Orange County Register reported Wednesday that former USC coach Mike Gillespie has applied for the job.

Looking at the big picture, you can understand Serrano’s decision, but he should have been more forthright with his former employee.

UCI officials need to come out and make a statement by hiring a name coach; Gillespie would be a good one; but they also need to indicate what direction the athletics program is heading.

Just think, college baseball season is just five months away.

FENCE POST FAVORITES

Based on last week’s football games, you would have to say that Irvine and University are the favorites to win the Dennis Toohey Fence Post Trophy. Both teams were very impressive.

Irvine is already 2-0 and University is 1-0.

Both should remain undefeated after this week’s games.

For more Press Box notes, please go to our web site at irvineworldnews.com/sports.