Mulligan Announces Retirement From Irvine Valley

Bill Mulligan, who has coached at UC Irvine, Saddleback and most recently Irvine Valley, announced his retirement Tuesday.

Mulligan, 65, said he plans to spend his time traveling and relaxing. “It’s been an enjoyable experience,” he said by phone from Las Vegas.

It has been long rumored that Mulligan’s son Brian, who was an assistant at Irvine Valley, would replace his father. According to the college’s press release, Brian was offered the chance but refused, and instead stepped down from Irvine Valley. He will continue to teach history at Capistrano Valley High.

Bill Mulligan’s first college job was at Riverside City College, from 1966 to 1975. He then coached at Saddleback College from 1976 to 1980. He was at UC Irvine from 1981 to 1991, then retired for the first time. Mulligan become Irvine Valley’s first coach when the program started in 1992.

From the opening press conference at Irvine Valley, Mulligan said he planned to coach no more than three seasons. He suffered a minor stroke last spring and at that time said he wanted to coach one more season, the first for Irvine Valley in its new gym.

“We are thrilled that we have had Bill for three years,” Irvine Valley Athletic Director Aracely Mora said. “He had more than exceeded our hopes and expectations . . . Bill basically put us on the map.”

Mulligan had a record of 56-46 at Irvine Valley and led the Lasers to the playoffs each season. His final team went 22-12 and won the Lasers’ first playoff game.

Mulligan had a record of 163-156 at UC Irvine and was selected as the Big West Conference coach of the year in 1986. His team reached the 1988 NCAA tournament and made two appearances in the NIT.

Mulligan first gained fame in Orange County at Saddleback College, where he had a record of 136-31 and won three Mission Conference titles. His team reached the 1979 State championship game only to lose to Orange Coast, then coached by Tandy Gillis. Gillis was a member of Mulligan’s staff this season.