Mulligan Expected to Be Named Coach at Irvine Valley

Bill Mulligan, who resigned last year after 11 seasons as men’s basketball coach at UC Irvine, is expected to be named coach at Irvine Valley College early this week, sources said Saturday.

The Saddleback Community College Board of Trustees is expected to approve the addition of men’s basketball at Irvine Valley during a Monday meeting. The school hopes to begin playing in the fall of 1992 or 1993.

Mulligan, who declined comment on the situation, coached at Riverside and Saddleback colleges before taking over at UC Irvine in 1980-81. His Anteater teams went 163-156 and advanced to the National Invitation Tournament in 1982 and 1986.

UC Irvine had only one losing season in Mulligan’s first eight years as coach, but the Anteaters dipped to 12-17 in 1988-89, 5-23 in 1989-90 and 11-19 in 1990-91. Mulligan resigned in February, 1991, and has been doing broadcast work this season.