UCI coach lauded

UC Irvine men’s basketball Coach Pat Douglass was honored prior to the Anteaters’ home opener against Santa Clara on Tuesday night.

Athletic Director Bob Chichester presented Douglass with a team-signed basketball during the pregame ceremony at the Bren Events Center.

Douglass earned his milestone victory in spectacular fashion, as UCI upset No. 13 Stanford, 79-63, on Saturday.

After the Anteaters’ victory over Santa Clara, Douglass has a record of 501-226 in 25 seasons as a coach. He has a 125-108 record at UC Irvine through eight-plus seasons. Douglass earned Big West Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2001, after guiding the Anteaters to the National Invitational Tournament.

Douglass has also coached at Cal State Bakersfield and Eastern Montana, winning three NCAA Division II titles at Cal State Bakersfield. He is one of only six NCAA Division I-II basketball coaches to have won three national titles.20051124iqfpoaknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)UCI men’s basketball Coach Pat Douglass, right, receives a ball in honor of his 500th win from Athletic Director Bob Chichester, left, Tuesday night.