Columnist Steve Carp: Irvine coach learning what patience is

Steve Carp

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1997 | 12:30 p.m.

THERE ARE JUST over 300 men who belong to the select group. The majority of them get paid well and are considered to be at the pinnacle of their profession.

But with the position of being a Division I basketball coach comes pressure to produce. Pressure from boosters. From the alumni. From the media. From the student body. And yes, sometimes from the administration.

Pat Douglass must really love coaching basketball. Why else would he leave a national championship program at Division II Cal State Bakersfield for UC Irvine, which won just one game last season?

For the challenge? Perhaps. For the glory of coaching Division I? Maybe. For the money? Possibly.

But the guess here is that Douglass, like most coaches, believes he can make a difference. And if he can make a difference, why not try to do it at college basketball's highest level?

He obviously wasn't forced out at Bakersfield. He did great things with the Roadrunners in his 10 years there, compiling a 257-61 record and winning 80 percent of his games. He even made a player out of Kebu Stewart, the former UNLV malcontent now earning an NBA paycheck in Philadelphia.

So why did he take on the challenge of rebuilding UC Irvine's struggling program?

"Because they were the first ones to actually offer me a job," he said, smiling. "They pulled the trigger."

But Douglass quickly got serious. He already has won more games than Rod Baker did a year ago. But at 2-6, he's not bragging.

"I think every time you take over a job, it's a building situation," Douglass said. "But when you take over a 1-25 program, it takes a little longer."

Irvine is giving Douglass five years to build a new house. He hopes to get it done sooner without taking any shortcuts.

"When you haven't experienced it before, it's tough to deal with it," he said. "I'm not used to losing. What we've got to do is teach the young kids how to win. And we're coaching our butts off knowing in the future we'll be stronger."

It is an uphill battle to be sure. Douglass was hired in late March, leaving him little time to recruit. He was able to get a few players but the truth is, 1997-98 is a throwaway season. Give him a chance to work it and he'll get the guys he needs to be successful.

For now, it's make do with what he has, work hard, and hope some success comes down the line when Big West Conference play begins.

"We're fighting for our lives every night trying to keep our heads above water," he said. "Philosophically, you'd like to accept losing if you're playing hard. But at times, I don't handle it well."

It could be another tough night this evening at the Thomas & Mack Center against a UNLV team smarting from a tough loss to Syracuse Saturday.

"It's a tough assignment for us," he said of meeting the 4-4 Rebels. "We're much better than a month ago and we'll use tonight as a chance to get better and play an outstanding opponent in a beautiful arena."

And it's a chance to get a taste of why he moved up from Division II to the big time.