Laguna Beach’s Ashen Takes UCI Volleyball Job

Bill Ashen, boys’ volleyball coach at Laguna Beach High School for seven years, has been named men’s volleyball coach at UC Irvine. The university plans to re-establish its program, which was dropped in the mid-1970s, as a club team next spring.

“There’s mixed feelings because we’ve had a lot of fun at Laguna,” Ashen said, “but there’s the same potential for fun at Irvine.

“This gives me a chance to build my own program at the college level. Having this job in an area where I’ve grown up and don’t have to move away from makes it extra special, too.”

At Laguna Beach, Ashen’s teams won three consecutive Southern Section titles (1981-83) as well as seven league titles, four Orange County championships, two Palisades Invitational championships and two Redondo Invitational championships.

“There wasn’t a whole lot more for me to accomplish at that level,” he said.

Ashen, 34, begins work at UCI in mid-September, preparing the Anteaters for a club-level season, but one that will include college powerhouses UCLA and Pepperdine on the schedule. UCI plans to compete in Division I play during the 1988 season.

Laguna Beach has not named Ashen’s successor.