Any misgivings that Mike Zaher had about his verbal commitment
to UCLA were apparently alleviated with word that a new coach will
be hired soon.
Reports that the administration has narrowed its search to three
finalists led Zaher, one of the nation’s top prep
midfielders, to reaffirm his intentions to become a Bruin once the
men’s soccer signing period begins Feb. 4.
“We’re comfortable again,” Zaher’s
father, Jack Zaher, said Wednesday. “Now that they’ve
told us a coach will be in place soon, he’s definitely coming
to UCLA.”
Doubts first crept into the younger Zaher’s mind almost
immediately after ex-Bruin coach Tom Fitzgerald resigned earlier
this month. The Las Vegas native was hesitant about signing with
the Bruins without knowing for certain who his coach would be.
After several weeks without any contact from the UCLA Athletics
Department, he and his father contacted several other schools who
had previously recruited him to ask their coaches to save space on
their rosters.
“I didn’t want him to waste a year,” his
father said. “If UCLA got a coach that had never seen Mike
play, he may not like his style.”
Now that UCLA’s short list has been reduced to three names
““ UCLA assistant coach Jorge Salcedo, Loyola Marymount coach
Paul Krumpe and former Los Angeles Galaxy assistant coach Ralph
Perez ““ the family’s fears have been assuaged.
Salcedo was instrumental in Zaher’s recruitment and has
spoken to him several times since Fitzgerald’s resignation.
Zaher has heard only positive reviews about Perez and is familiar
with Krumpe, who previously coached his older brother.
Zaher is a member of a six-player recruiting class that is
considered to be among the best in the nation. Attempts to reach
any of the other Bruin recruits Wednesday were unsuccessful.
No member of the Athletics Department can comment specifically
about an individual recruit, but Associate Athletic Director
Michael Sondheimer did confirm that he was aware of the possibility
that some may decide not to sign until a coach is officially
hired.
“We’re hopeful that all the recruits sign with
us,” he said. “At the same time, I understand how they
may want to wait and see who the coach is.”
Krumpe, Salcedo and Perez will each interview with Associate
Athletic Director Ken Weiner today. Weiner said earlier this week
that he may interview up to five candidates and does not expect to
hire a coach for at least one more week.