UC Irvine: Head coach Doug Oliver to retire at end of season

After 41 years of coaching college basketball, UC Irvine women’s basketball head coach Doug Oliver has announced he will retire at the end of the 2015-16 season.

“I appreciate the opportunity and support (athletics director) Mike Izzi and the administration have given me,” Oliver said. “It’s just time. I’ve enjoyed coaching here and look forward to the program moving forward.”

Oliver was named UCI’s head coach on May 22, 2012 after serving one year as an assistant with the UCI women and two years as an assistant coach with the UCI men’s team. In 2012-13 the team finished 9-21.

In 2013-14, Oliver guided the Anteaters to a 17-15 overall record, the most wins in 19 seasons. Last year, the Anteaters had an 8-24 record.

In his tenure at UCI, three of his players have garnered Big West honors, including first–team selection Camille Buckley in 2013-14.

The bulk of Oliver’s career was served on the men’s side. He was the head coach at Idaho State from 1998-2006 and as an assistant at Stanford for 14 years.  He was also an assistant at Utah, Boise State, and West Valley College.

“For the rest of the season the expectations are the same,” Oliver added. “We will prepare and play hard to win every league game. It is business as usual when it comes to competing for the rest of the year.”

Currently, UCI are 3-13 and 0-2 in Big West play for last place.