UC IRVINE NOTES : Santa Clara Coach Joins Anteater Volleyball Program

Mary Ellen Murchison, formerly head coach at Santa Clara for 11 years, has joined UC Irvine’s women’s volleyball program as an assistant coach.

Murchison coached at Santa Clara from 1979-89, and the Mustangs had a record of 20-12 in her final season.

“We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Mary Ellen’s background working for us,” Irvine Coach Mike Puritz said. “It is not often you get someone with 11 years of head coaching experience to be your assistant coach. We have battled each other in the gym and in recruiting in the past, so it will be nice to actually work with her.”

Murchison, a graduate of Cal State Long Beach with a master’s degree from Santa Clara, began her coaching career in Southern California high schools. She also coached badminton briefly at Santa Clara, and served as women’s assistant athletic director from 1979-86.

Juan Strutton, a first-team all-county soccer selection by The Times Orange County last season, will join the men’s soccer team, Coach Derek Lawther announced.

Strutton, a midfielder, scored 20 goals for Laguna Hills High School last season and was named the Pacific Coast League’s most valuable player. In his four-year career at Laguna Hills, he scored 50 goals and had 30 assists.

“Juan is a very experienced freshman who should delight the spectators with his magical feet,” Lawther said.

Ryan Tinsley, a transfer from Irvine Valley College, will also join the Anteaters. Tinsley, a 1989 graduate of El Toro High School, earned All-Orange Empire Conference honors last season after scoring six goals and adding 11 assists.

“Ryan is a mature player who will solidify our midfield,” Lawther said.

Ernie Carr, an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team the past two seasons, has accepted a position as an assistant principal at Centennial High School in Compton.

Carr, head coach at Dominguez High School in Compton for 12 seasons, was a part-time assistant coach at UCLA and an interim head coach at Saddleback College during the two years before he joined Bill Mulligan’s staff at Irvine.

Mulligan retired after the 1990-91 season. Carr was interviewed for the job, which went to Rod Baker, a former Seton Hall assistant.

Carr said he probably will return to coaching at some point, although the situation would have to be right.