UC Irvine’s O’Boyle Turns Down Air Force Job

Vince O’Boyle, the UC Irvine track and cross-country coach, has turned down a job with the U.S. Air Force Academy, but said he has been approached by other schools and will continue to consider offers.

“There was something about Colorado that held me back,” he said. “It was not the Air Force Academy. The timing wasn’t right there.”

O’Boyle was offered a position as head men’s and women’s cross-country coach and assistant men’s track coach at the academy, which is located near Colorado Springs, Colo.

At Irvine, O’Boyle has been coaching the men’s and women’s cross-country teams and the men’s track team. When Irvine announced in May that it planned to drop men’s track and cross-country, the school said O’Boyle would stay on as women’s track and cross-country coach, retaining the title of director of track and cross-country.

Last month, Irvine agreed to reinstate the men’s programs for the 1992-93 season if supporters raised $70,000 by Aug. 3. Another $70,000 would have to be raised for the program to continue beyond next year.

O’Boyle said he is impressed with the early fund-raising efforts but concerned about the deadline, which is less than a month away.

“The money is coming in,” he said. “The letters have gone out and are coming back. It’s a matter of time.”

Should the men’s program be revived, O’Boyle said he would be less inclined to leave.

“If the men are not going to be here, that would have an effect on decisions down the road a year from now, or maybe less,” he said.