Derek Freeman spent last year getting used to a new job, having joined the UCLA men’s golf team as an assistant to then head coach O.D. Vincent.
After Vincent’s recent decision to leave UCLA to coach at Duke, Freeman can now look forward to having another new job this year: replacing the man who hired him.
Last Monday, Freeman was named head coach of the UCLA’s men’s golf team. He will inherit a team that should be one of the best in the nation next year and will welcome one of the top-ranked classes of incoming freshmen.
“Derek Freeman possesses the precise skills we need to maintain our position among college golf’s elite teams,” Senior Associate Athletic Director Glenn Toth said. “He has been a professional player, successful head and assistant coach, and has demonstrated his talent in recruiting, instructing, and fundraising.”
Freeman spent two years as an assistant coach at Oklahoma University before coming to UCLA as an assistant to Vincent. Despite only having one year of experience in Westwood, Freeman was endorsed by Vincent as the right man to take over the program.
“I think (Vincent) is an extremely talented coach, and very good, not only in the sense of a golf coach, but just a good person,” Freeman said. “He left on good terms here at UCLA, and having the right person in here after him was important. So, I think him giving me the endorsement was very important, and it helped me in getting the job.”
Prior to leaving UCLA, Vincent had said that if Freeman did not take his place as the head coach, he would invite Freeman to join him at Duke.
But UCLA wasn’t going to let Freeman slip away. His hiring was a fairly easy choice: In addition to Vincent’s endorsement, many of the returning players and incoming recruits wanted him to be retained as well.
“They all played an important role in me getting the job,” Freeman said. “They all sent e-mails and phone calls to the administration. That’s good to know that your team is behind you from the very beginning. Our recruits are behind it 100 percent. It feels good.”
Freeman’s experience at UCLA contributed to his hiring as well. In his year with the team, Freeman proved be a great asset as an assistant coach. His leadership with the Blue team, a squad that brought home a pair of tournament wins last season, demonstrated his ability.
Freeman is confident that, after working under Vincent, he is well-prepared to take over leadership of the program.
“I am excited ““ it’s going to be a great time, we’ve got a wonderful group of guys. I am going to miss (Vincent), but he taught me well, and spending a year under him is like spending five years somewhere else,” Freeman said.
Since Vincent’s departure, Freeman had taken over many of the head coach’s duties on an interim basis. Now he can begin to work with the confidence of a more permanent position. Outside of coaching, some of his obligations will include fundraising, dealing with alumni, and, perhaps most importantly, recruiting.
Freeman had a great deal to do with the recruitment of Philip Francis, a Scottsdale, Ariz., native and the No. 1-ranked incoming freshman in the country. Francis signed a letter of intent last October and, despite rumors that he will turn pro, Freeman believes that the prized recruit will be a Bruin.
“I have talked to (Francis) numerous times throughout this whole process,” Freeman said. “He really wanted me to get the job because he wants to come here and wants to be at UCLA.
“He’s going to be here in the fall, he’s going to be playing wearing a Bruin shirt, and we’re extremely fired up about him being here.”
Assuming Francis does come to Westwood, the Bruins should be in great shape heading into next season. According to Golfstat.com, UCLA will be the top-ranked team in the nation in the fall.
Not that Freeman is thinking that far ahead.
“Rankings are always just what they are,” Freeman said. “It’s great if that’s were we are. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is that these guys wake up every morning and believe that we’re the best golf team in the country, and that they can perform at a level that will allow them to reach that next level.
“We’ve become accustomed at UCLA to winning. Winning is important, and I want to make sure that I give these guys the ability to go win.”