UCI’s Edles retires
Mike Edles, who consistently guided the UC Irvine women’s tennis program into Big West Conference title contention, has announced his retirement after 20 years as the Anteaters’ head coach.
Edles led UCI to three NCAA Tournament berths, 12 Big West Tournament finals and 15 winning seasons during his tenure.
In 2013, his Anteater team registered a school-record 23 wins, a perfect conference-regular-season record and the program’s third trip to the NCAA Tournament, in which UCI won its first tournament match. The Anteaters reached a national ranking of 23rd that year, highest in program history.
His 2010 squad earned the program’s first Big West Tournament title.
A five-time Big West Coach of the Year, Edles was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Assn./Southwest Region Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2010.
UCI was 6-15 last season, 4-4 in the Big West. The ‘Eaters lost in the quarterfinals of the Big West Tournament.
“It has been my great honor to be the UCI head women’s tennis coach and be involved with this tremendous program for the past 20 years,” Edles said. “I want to thank those individuals at UCI responsible for giving me the opportunity to work at UCI, my alma mater, for so many years.
“I also want to thank the many assistant coaches, trainers, support staff, and administrators I worked with. Their support through the years was essential for the team’s success.
“Lastly, I wish to thank the many, many players I have worked with at UCI. The students at UCI are the cream of the crop,” Edles said. “Working with such talented and dedicated young people was a joy and it keeps you young. I truly loved my job. It has been a thoroughly enjoyable ride.”
“We thank Mike for his dedication and contributions to UCI, first as an accomplished student-athlete himself and then as a successful head coach for the last 20 years,” Athletic Director Mike Izzi said.
“He has been committed to his student-athletes, not only on the court, but off it as well, and continued to do so when they graduated.
“Mike built and maintained a highly competitive program, and he has represented our department and the University with pride and class,” Izzi said.
Edles competed for the UCI men’s tennis program from 1975-79, earning All-American honors in singles and doubles in 1977, when the Anteaters won the NCAA Division II championship. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from UCI in 1979.
Edles served as head women’s coach at Boise State from 1992-95, leading the Broncos to their first Big Sky Conference championship in 1995.
He also was head men’s tennis coach at Cal State Hayward (1988-92), Chapman University (1982-88) and Cal State Bakersfield (1979-82).
— From staff reports
— From staff reports