Irvine Expected to Take Its Time

UC Irvine’s search for a new athletic director to replace Dan Guerrero won’t begin until next week and figures to last into the summer.

Chancellor Ralph Cicerone said he doesn’t have a list of candidates ready to replace the popular Guerrero. He said he would put together an on-campus search committee to compile a list of prospects for a job he said is more attractive than it was in 1992 when Guerrero arrived.

“Because of the state it is in,” Cicerone said. “He left it in so much better condition than when he found it.”

Guerrero was hired Thursday as UCLA’s athletic director. He will succeed Pete Dalis.

Cicerone said he plans to hire someone on an interim basis soon.

One possible candidate is Rob Halvaks, an associate commissioner with the Big West Conference who worked in the Irvine athletic department for 10 years and still lives in the city. He said he hasn’t given much thought to the position but wouldn’t rule out his interest.

“I honestly [hadn’t] given any thought about it until [Commissioner] Dennis [Farrell] brought it up the other day,” he said. “I have been away from campus for 13 years and I’m not really sure if I want to go back into that school environment.”

Another possibility is Cal State Dominguez Hills Athletic Director Ron Prettyman, who was a finalist for the Cal State Fullerton opening. Prettyman was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Petrina Long, Irvine’s senior associate athletic director, said she will not pursue the position.

Ed Carroll, who was Fullerton’s athletic director from 1985-91, said he had no interest in the job. He is in charge of finance for Irvine athletics.