Edles’ Shift to Mainland Is Net Gain for Anteater Women’s Tennis Team

If nothing else, the frequent-flyer miles certainly have added up for UC Irvine women’s tennis Coach Mike Edles.

In the last four months Edles has commuted to Honolulu to see his family, then returned to oversee rebuilding the women’s tennis team. In all, he has made five trips. Such is the length--not to mention distance--Edles will go to return the Anteaters to prominence.

“This program has potential,” said Edles, a graduate of Irvine. “The team was ranked in the top 10 many years ago. It has the makings of a great program.”

Edles could see those high points all the way in Hawaii.

A year ago, he was an assistant for the Hawaii women’s team. Edles had settled down after being a vagabond coach, bouncing from Cal State Bakersfield to Chapman to Cal State Hayward to Boise State. He had success at each stop.

Then his wife, Laura, got a job as a sociology instructor at Hawaii. Edles decided to go back to school to earn his master’s degree in educational administration. His schedule enabled him to coach a little tennis on the side.

It was paradise found. Then word reached Edles that the Irvine job was available, because longtime Anteater Coach Doreen Irish did not have her contract renewed after a 9-15 season.

“It was a tough decision,” Edles said. “My wife and I talked about it a great deal. We decided her job prospects would be better here than mine were in Hawaii. It’s pretty isolated over there.”

There was one more factor.

“I think it is everyone’s dream to go back to their college as a coach,” Edles said.

That carried some weight with Athletic Director Dan Guerrero.

“There were several things we liked,” Guerrero said. “He is a proven winner. He had tremendous references from people I respect very much. Thirdly, he was a UCI graduate and had a very successful playing career at this institution.”

Edles played at Irvine from 1975-79 and was an All-American singles and doubles player. He helped the Anteaters win the Division II national championship in 1979.

While Edles was playing for the men’s team, the women’s program also was ranked nationally. The Anteaters averaged 20 victories per season from 1977-85.

“I’m convinced, that if we can do the things necessary, like upgrading the scholarship budget, then Mike can bring in top-notch student-athletes and this can be a great program,” Guerrero said.

Irvine has 3 1/2 scholarships next season. The NCAA limit is eight. There are 12 players on the team this season.

Still, Edles has had success on a shoestring budget before.

He won three NCAA Division II championships and finished second once from 1985-88 as the Chapman men’s coach. His first championship team included players from Kenya, New Zealand and Canada. Another player, who was 27, hadn’t taken up the sport until he was 19. Edles found another player working as an assistant to a club pro.

Edles also proved he could draw recruits at Boise State. The Bronco women’s team was Big Sky champion last season and Edles was named the conference’s coach of the year.

“Everywhere Mike has gone, he has turned those programs into gold or was on the way to doing that,” Guerrero said.

Now Edles is being asked to make the Anteaters glitter. No easy task. They were 32-60 the last four seasons.

“There is no reason UCI shouldn’t be one of the elite [Division I] schools,” Edles said. “The location, our facility and the support of the administration are great.”

Already, he has made inroads.

Darian Chappell, a top-10 singles player in Southern California, signed a letter of intent in November. Chappell, from Camarillo High, also is part of a doubles team that is ranked No. 1 in Southern California.

“It’s like night and day recruiting here,” Edles said. “I’ve had to beat the bushes for players in the past. Now, I’m in a situation where the players make the first contact.”

The situation will get even better this week. Edles made the round trip to Hawaii for the last time. His wife and kids are returning with him.

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Rod Baker didn’t wait long to start rebuilding some psyches after USC routed the Anteaters, 107-45, Sunday.

It was obvious that Trojan Coach Henry Bibby, for whatever reason, had decided to hammer Irvine. The Trojans pressed throughout the second half and was running set plays in the final seconds. The Anteaters, though, could look in-house for some of the other problems.

Field-goal shooting: 32%.

Free-throw shooting: 58%.

Turnovers: 30.

Rebounds: 19.

For Baker, there was a common denominator.

“I wrote one word on the board after the game, ‘Pride,’ ” Baker said.

“This team doesn’t have a cavalier attitude. Should they be down? Yes. Will they come back? Yes.”

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The Anteaters might get a boost with the return of freshman forward Brian Johnson. He missed two games because of a sprained toe. Johnson practiced Saturday but was unable to play against USC.

“He has no problem with the pain,” Baker said. “He has been walking on the side of his foot for two weeks, so that’s the way he practiced [Saturday].”

Baker said Johnson might be ready for Saturday’s game at Cal State Northridge. Anthony Delacruz, a 6-foot-4 walk-on, has started in Johnson’s place.