Hastings inquired about becoming a statistician for the team, but Coach Al Scates offered him a position as an undergraduate assistant coach.
Tom Hastings had a plan. He was nearing the end of his senior year at Esperanza High School where he had just led his volleyball team to the CIF Division I title. He wasn’t recruited to play volleyball in college so he decided to attend San Diego State in the fall, therefore ending his volleyball career.
He made his decision, he signed his letter of intent and he even got his dorm assignment. But life is funny; plans change.
Late in the spring of his senior year after he competed in a county all-star game, he received a phone call from UCLA assistant coach Brian Rofer offering him a spot on the UCLA men’s volleyball team.
“I got the call like two days after the county game and as soon as he said he could get me into UCLA, it was 100 percent. I was going,” Hastings said.
“My dad actually went to UCLA and played for Scates. Scates doesn’t know that because he cut him pretty early on but going to UCLA has still always been a dream of mine.”
Al Scates, UCLA’s legendary head coach in his 50th and final year of coaching had no recollection or sympathy for the cut.
“I’ve cut a lot of people in my time,” Scates said with a grin. “I’ve met his dad, and he never said anything about it so I never knew. I guess we were fortunate it didn’t affect Tom.”
Scates was more than fortunate, as Hastings ended up becoming one of the Bruins’ most valuable assets during his four years at UCLA.
As a freshman, Hastings was thrown into the fire after starting libero Tony Ker went down to injury. Hastings started two games and found his way into the rotation thanks to his passing prowess.
“He was ready as a freshman,” Scates said. “He really knew where to be, and he was a tremendous passer.”
With such a promising freshman year, expectations were high for Hastings’ second season, as he would now be handed the reigns as the team’s starting libero.
Unfortunately, a combination of academic ineligibility and the diagnosis of mononucleosis kept him from contributing as anticipated.
“It was a bad time, and the worst part was it was all my fault,” Hastings said. “I learned a lesson from it though and came back and started every game from that point on.”
Starting is one thing; starring is another.
Hastings became the heart and soul of the Bruins for his junior and senior year as a defensive specialist and passing expert, as he helped lead UCLA to top-10 finishes both years as a starter.
“Tom is a great guy and a great player,” said redshirt senior quick hitter Weston Dunlap, who arrived at UCLA the same year as Hastings and is his current roommate.
“I loved playing with him, and he is easily the best passing libero I’ve ever played with.”
While Hastings had an extremely successful playing career, he ended his time at UCLA without a coveted national title.
“We all want to win it every year, and I was really disappointed that I couldn’t help us get that 20th championship last year,” Hastings said. “That was the goal, and we couldn’t do it.”
After losing to USC in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament, Hastings approached Scates and inquired about becoming a statistician for the team.
Scates did him one better.
“I decided I wanted him on the floor,” Scates said. “My other volunteer assistant is a police officer in Oxford so he can’t make it to everything, and I wanted to have three guys on the floor. I went to Tom and asked him to be that third guy with me and Rofer.”
Like his decision to play for Scates, it didn’t take long for Hastings to jump on the opportunity to become an undergraduate assistant coach.
“Being able to stay with the team was a blessing,” Hastings said. “I’ve known these guys and played with these guys since I was a kid, and it’s amazing to be able to be there on the court with them.”
Hastings’ role as an undergraduate assistant coach means he is on the sideline with the team; he travels with the team; and he attends and coaches at all of the practices.
Dunlap, who Hastings has played volleyball with since the club level in junior high, knows how much it means for Hastings to be on the sideline with his teammates.
“I can see it in his eyes every day that he wants to be out there playing with us,” Dunlap said. “But it has been great having him on the sidelines, and he’s been a huge part of our team this year.”
Scates, who is now 72 years old, truly appreciates having Hastings on staff because of his unique combination of knowing the game and still having the ability to play it.
“Tom was an amazing player, and he’s been a fantastic coach,” Scates said. “He has helped out our backcourt defense tremendously because he has a great understanding of volleyball.”
“Also, it’s just nice to have a young guy on staff because I don’t know what the hell they’re doing at night, and he’s best friends with a lot of these guys. He keeps an eye on them.”
Despite still being a valuable asset to the team, Hastings admits at times he does miss helping out on the floor. But he knows the mission ahead and while sometimes plans do change, he has one commitment that has no chance of wavering.
“I just want to win. We have to win,” Hastings said. “It would be the perfect ending to Scates’ legendary career. If I can help them win it all, that would be the ultimate accomplishment. It would be perfect.”