As Director of Golf, Johnston Doesn’t Do Anything Halfway

There isn’t much about UC Irvine golf Coach Jeff Johnston that doesn’t go to the extreme.

He has two master’s degrees--one in sports leisure, the other in sports ethics. He plays golf in Palm Springs--in July, when the temperature reaches 115.

Even his work at the school’s freshman orientation turns into a 500-person game of Simon Says.

So one shouldn’t expect to get some cliche from Johnston about his team’s selection for the NCAA West Regional, which begins today in Tempe, Ariz. Instead, one should expect to get a bad pun and some creative geography.

“Pepperdine, last year’s national champion, was from Southern California, so we hope to ride their wave,’ Johnston said. “After all, they are from Malibu and we’re a beach city too.”

Irvine? A beach city?

“It’s a fact,” Johnston said. “Half our players live in Newport Beach.”

Such logic doesn’t go unnoticed.

Johnston, 35, has been promoted to director of golf and the university’s recreation director. In part, it was a reward. In part, it was protection from losing him after the success he has had since his arrival three years ago.

“Everything he touches turns to gold,” Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said.

Such a Midas ability you can’t afford to lose, even if the guy can cause some serious head scratching.

For the last eight years, Johnston and some friends have made a golf trek to Palm Springs, a popular destination for golfers. Of course, most don’t plan their trips for the middle of summer.

“We go out and play 54 holes and the people wonder what’s wrong with us,” Johnston said. “But it’s a lot cheaper to play in the summer. When we hit balls into a water hazard, we just jump in after them.”

Golf has played a prominent role in Johnston’s life, beginning with his days as a caddie at the Edgewood Valley Country Club in La Grange, Ill. He worked at the Western Open, a PGA Tour event to which each club in the area sends one caddie. Johnston went three consecutive years.

“It inspired me,” he said. “To see golf at that level, with all the class, makes you want to play the game.”

Johnston attended Illinois, then came to Irvine in 1988. He spent six years as an assistant recreation director at Irvine, where his golf classes proved very popular. He attended USC for his master’s degrees and still found time to form the USC golf club.

Irvine, though, was always on his mind. When the golf job opened three years ago, he jumped at the chance. Irvine officials were more than happy to make that catch.

This year, the Anteaters were selected to play in the 18-team regional. The top nine teams advance to the national championships. It is only the third time in 21 years that Irvine has advanced to a regional.

“He has accomplished what he set out to do,” Guerrero said of Johnston. “He brought back many of our golfing alums. He has enhanced our relationship with golf courses in the area, and he has led the team to the regional. Naming him director of golf just allowed us to maximize all of his talents.”

Which includes Simon Says.

Each year during freshman orientation, a crowd gathers at Crawford Hall, where Johnston supervises an all-nighter.

“We play dodge ball and giant twister, but Simon Says is the most popular,’ Johnston said. “Let me tell you, you have to really roll up your sleeves to knock 500 people out of a game.”

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Johnston never seems to do anything on a small scale, even when it comes to proposing marriage. After eight years of dating, he finally asked Lisa Bohan, Bren Center director, to marry him.

“She said I needed to make a decision in my life,” Johnston said. “I said, ‘OK, I’ll use my seven-iron.’ ”

He understood, though. He finally popped the question after a round of golf.

“I had a friend put the ring in the 18th hole cup during our department tournament and she found it when she got her ball,” Johnston said. “Women and children were weeping. There were 30 people standing around and, of course, they had all been on her side. It had been eight years. I had just considered it a long blind date.”

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Anteater track athletes Christie Engesser and Heather Perrin improved their times on the school’s top 10 lists for the second consecutive week.

Engesser went 2 minutes 7.55 seconds in the 800 meters, the third fastest in school history. Perrin ran a 56.68 in the 400, the school’s 10th-best time.

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Marine Cano, women’s soccer coach and former professional goalkeeper, led his team to the championship in a 35-and-older tournament in Puerto Vallarta recently. He had two shutouts in the three games.

“Man, I was hot,’ Cano said.

He has continued his roll since returning to Irvine, picking up five recruits. Elizabeth Spies, a sweeper from Rosary; Allison Marra, a forward from West Torrance; Tina Nissen, a forward from Katella; Erin Sharpe, a goalkeeper from Clovis West; and Kim Shattuck, a defender from Riverside Poly, all have signed letters of intent.

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Blake Sasaki has been named assistant athletic director for marking and promotions. He replaces Charlie Wright, who resigned in March.

Sasaki comes to Irvine from Weber State, where he served in the same capacity the last two years.