UC Irvine's Gillespie here to stay … for now
By Kendall Rogers
Most 69-year-old men are ready to finish their career and start traveling the world and relaxing.
UC Irvine coach Mike Gillespie is the opposite.
He admits he's not a fisherman. He isn't a golfer and certainly hasn't won the California lottery. So, Gillespie continues to work.
We call it work. He calls it fun.
It's easy to see where Gillespie is coming from.
After UC Irvine reached the College World Series with coach Dave Serrano in 2007, it needed to make a splash after Serrano
departed for Cal State Fullerton after the trip to Omaha.
Back then, Gillespie was serving as a scout and manager for the Staten Island Yankees, a farm team in the Yankees system. He left USC the previous year on
not-so-friendly terms with athletic director Mike Garrett.
In other words, Gillespie definitely was available. UC Irvine wanted him. Who wouldn't want a coach that amassed a 763-471-2 (.618) record and won the 1998 national title at USC.
"I never really felt like I had to be rejuvenated again, it was just about being in the right situation," Gillespie said. "Coming back to coaching really has been a great thing for me. I've just loved it. It's been some really good stuff."
It's been easy for the Anteaters to love Gillespie, too.
In his first season, Gillespie had little trouble continuing where Serrano and his coaching staff left off despite some key personnel losses. The 'Eaters finished the season 42-18 and reached the Baton Rouge Super Regional.
The program took another huge step last season. The Anteaters started the season on the right foot and amassed an amazing 22-2 Big West record and a No. 1 ranking before earning a national seed and hosting the Irvine Regional. The 'Eaters fell short against Virginia in the regional title game but the season was still a huge success.
"I thought that winning the Big West the way we did and earning a No. 1 ranking for part of the year is something that we all should take pride in. Those are significant achievements," Gillespie said. "Last season was fantastic and it gives us something to build on for the upcoming season."
Much like his first campaign with the program, Gillespie will have some tough holes to fill. Leader Benny Orloff departed this past summer and other key players also are gone. However, the return of ace pitcher Danny Bibona in addition to weekend starters Christian Bergman and Crosby Slaught and stud reliever Eric Pettis have the Anteaters again thinking about a national title. The successes of the last two seasons and the expectations for the upcoming season also have many wondering about Gillespie's coaching future.
When Gillespie took the job back in '07, he anointed then Cal State Los Angeles coach Pat Shine the associate head coach and essentially the coach-in-waiting. Now, though, with Gillespie on cruise control, many are wondering just how long Shine will have to wait before he gets the program's reins.
Chances are it will at least be a few more seasons.
"It's impossible for me to know the answer to how much longer I plan on coaching. I feel very good and I love my job. I think it's probably up to the administration at UC Irvine," he said. "I'm certainly not one to say that I've had enough. If I ran into a health issue I suppose I'd take a step back. But for now, I'm pretty good."
It appears the UC Irvine administration is on board with Gillespie's wishes. Sources have indicated the past few weeks that Irvine plans to give Gillespie a contract extension. But the 69-year-old denied that a contract extension was sitting on the table.
It's only a matter of time before the wheels are in motion.
"There have been a lot of comments about a contract extension. We've had some conversations here and there, but there's nothing concrete or in writing," he said. "It's just sort of a topic of discussion."
And so the beat goes on. And in the meantime, Shine will continue to serve as associate head coach. How long he will do that without taking another head job at another school is a great question. Gillespie, though, hopes he chooses to stick around.
"Coach Shine and I have talked about the situation. We talk all the time and our relationship is just sensational," he said. "It's certainly my belief that he should be the head coach at UC Irvine at some point."
For now, though, and perhaps several more years, Gillespie reigns over the program.
Sixty-nine only is a number to Gillespie. A small one, that is.
