After much speculation about his job security, UCLA baseball
head coach Gary Adams put an end to all doubts about his future by
declaring that he will retire at the end of next season.
“Next year will be my 30th, and last, season as
UCLA’s head coach,” Adams said.
“I talked about it with my family and decided it is the
best thing. I like that I’m able to coach the same team. We
have most of our key players from this season’s team
returning, and I am looking forward to one great final season.
It’s been a great 30 years, but it’s time for someone
else to lead this program.”
While baseball flies mostly under the radar at UCLA, Adams is an
icon in college baseball circles.
His 950-793-7 record does not do justice to his success in
developing 37 major-leaguers, the most among active coaches and
second most all time. Adams also maintains avid alumni support, and
he continues to remain popular with his players.
“It’s frustrating when the wins and losses
don’t come out the way you want,” junior outfielder
Matt Sharp said.
“But the thing about (Adams) is that the man never quits.
In practice, he drills you and makes you better, like you’re
60-0. You will never see that man back down when he’s losing.
Never, ever.”
Rumors had been swirling that athletic director Dan Guerrero
would fire Adams after the Bruins saw a third consecutive year
without a playoff appearance, especially since Guerrero has already
fired two other high-profile coaches this year, football’s
Bob Toledo and basketball’s Steve Lavin.
Adams described both himself and Guerrero as being
“understanding and fair” during their end-of-the-year
meeting. He jokingly attributed their like-mindedness to the fact
that both are former second basemen.
Adams’ situation is much different than the aforementioned
dismissed coaches, as his legacy is indelible. UCLA alumni and
boosters have supported Adams, and players past and present are
anything but apathetic to the prospect of his departure.
“(Adams) is an honest and caring individual, and it would
have been a great loss if he were not going to be around next
year,” junior pitcher Chris Cordeiro said. “He has a
great following, and the alumni always come back. We have great
alumni scholarship endowments, and it’s always been a family
here. Because he’s been here so long, everyone comes back and
is so supportive.”
However, at a school as distinguished in athletics as UCLA, the
bottom line remains. Adams’ lone trip to the College World
Series came in 1997 with a team led by current major-league star
and reigning World Series MVP Troy Glaus. While seemingly every
year national titles roll into Westwood, baseball has been
conspicuously absent from the honor roll.
That is, except for the academic honor roll. Most everyone who
enters the baseball program departs with a degree, even many of the
major-league draftees who leave after their junior year.
“What he does with former players is that he will ride you
until you get your degree,” Cordeiro said. “He will not
stop calling you until you graduate. Even though five, six guys
leave early every year, they come back and finish. That means a
lot. Other coaches don’t care. Even after he retires,
he’ll be around and still be on everyone’s case about
graduating.”
Equally important, especially in light of some recent
embarrassing moments to the athletic program, Adams’ players
seldom make the headlines for shameful behavior.
“That’s about the kind of players he
recruits,” Cordeiro said. “He doesn’t go out and
recruit guys that will make the school look bad.”
All of this may have added up to a swan song year for Adams.
While Toledo and Lavin were given no leeway, Adams’
contributions to UCLA sports may have been enough to soften
Guerrero into allowing Adams one last year.
Adams plans to help with the transition following his last
coaching season by easing in UCLA baseball’s first new coach
in 30 years. Naming that coach will be one of Guerrero’s
toughest assignments for the coming year.
“I hope (hitting coach Vince) Beringhele gets the
job,” Adams said. “He’s earned it and would be
very good at it. At the same time, John Wooden wanted Denny Crum,
his assistant coach, to follow him, and they didn’t listen to
him, so I can’t expect they will listen to me.”
The future beyond next year aside, Adams’ last team looks
to be strong, as a few good recruiting classes culminate with
strong senior and junior leadership that was in the postseason hunt
until the last weekend of the season and finished 28-31.
Adams’ last year will be an emotional one for him and his
players.
“Coaching at UCLA has been a dream come true for
me,” Adams said. “I’ve had a tremendous time
working with the quality student-athletes in our program. Watching
them develop during their time at UCLA and then watching their
successes in all fields after college has made me proud to be their
coach.”
With reports from Jeff Agase, Bruin Sports Staff.