It appears the door may be closing on Gary Adams’ coaching
career at UCLA.
When asked if he would give the baseball coach a vote of
confidence, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero replied Tuesday,
“Why would I do that? I have not talked to Coach Adams about
it.”
There is a possibility that Adams could be fired at the
conclusion of the season ““ which ends Sunday ““ and
Adams has indicated that he will not retire, as some have
speculated.
“Dan’s the boss,” Adams said. “He makes
the decisions. If Dan wants me to come back, I’ll come back
next year.”
Guerrero indicated that Adams’ fate would be addressed in
a meeting at the end of the season, and that he has no qualms about
firing another high-profile coach if it’s necessary.
Rumors have been circulating about Adams’ future as the
baseball team struggles through its third consecutive losing
season. The squad is 26-30 overall, 9-12 in the Pac-10, and has no
chance to make the postseason for the third straight year.
Adams met with his players earlier in the season to address the
issue of his job security.
“I’m a realist. I know the talk goes on,”
Adams said. I told my team it wouldn’t be a distraction.
I’m committed to this team. I told them “˜Don’t
worry about me.'”
Adams’ staff has not noticed a change in his demeanor
since rumors began to circulate.
“If Gary’s job security is on his mind, I
don’t see it,” pitching coach Gary Adcock said.
“I really feel he has done a better coaching job this year
than in the past few years. He is an amazing man. He has the
biggest heart and is the most positive person I’ve ever been
around.”
In Adams’ 29 years as head coach, UCLA has made the
College World Series once and has never won a championship.
Guerrero cited injuries and inexperience when discussing the
team’s mediocre season.
Redshirt freshman catcher Chris Denove broke his collarbone in
the Bruins’ April 17 victory over Arizona State. Denove was
one of the team’s leading hitters, batting .319 with six home
runs and 26 RBI in 39 games. Senior centerfielder Chad Concolino
injured his ankle the day before the season began and never
played.
Only three seniors have seen significant playing time this year
““ utility player Warren Trott and pitchers Mike Kunes and
Doug Silva.
Neither former football coach Bob Toledo nor former men’s
basketball coach Steve Lavin were given votes of confidence prior
to their dismissals by Guerrero.
“Part of the equation that is always a concern, if you
look at Gary’s situation, is the fact that over the course of
29 years the team has not had the ability to go to and compete for
a national championship like many of the other teams at
UCLA.”
UCLA is in sixth place out of nine teams in the Pac-10. The
Bruins last made the playoffs in 2000 when they shared the Pac-10
title with Stanford and Arizona State.
“One part (the program) has missed is the ability to
consistently be among the best in the country,” Guerrero
said. “That is something we would certainly like to
accomplish here and I certainly believe we can.”
Despite Adams’ inability to produce winning teams at UCLA
recently, he has produced many winners in the major leagues.
Anaheim Angels All-Star Troy Glaus played for Adams, as did
longtime Dodger and current Chicago Cub Eric Karros, who walked on
to the UCLA team.
“There is no other coach in this program that has a
greater following of his alums than Gary,” Guerrero said.
“Gary Adams has probably been one of the most positive
representatives of this university, maybe in the history of UCLA
athletics.”
The Bruins beat three top 10 teams this year but failed to
consistently beat opponents of lesser caliber ““ a fact
Guerrero may be looking at closely.
“Whatever decision Dan makes, I’m a mature
man,” Adams said. “I can take whatever happens.
I’ll make it through.”
With contributions from Gilbert Quiñonez, Daily Bruin
Senior Staff and Ben Peters, Daily Bruin Reporter.