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Promo Code: 2019UCLA. @UCLAAthletics /uclaathletics /UCLA.athletics /uclaathletics BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 THE INSIDER’S VIEW WELCOME FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ne look at the cover of this issue will tell you it’s something special. is is the rst of our four Centennial-themed Bruin Blue covers, and the subject was an easy choice. In the past 100 years of UCLA Athletics, we have had no shortage of Bruin icons; there are literally dozens of cover-worthy people whom it would have made sense to feature. But, when it comes down to it, the face most synonymous with UCLA Athletics over the past century Ois Coach Wooden. at’s obviously due, in large part, to his legacy of success on the court, but it’s also due to his lasting impact, including many of the values that guide us every day as a department and as a University. You’ll learn more about that impact in this issue’s cover story. As most of you know, we are in the midst of UCLA’s Centennial Celebration, paying tribute to the many milestones, advancements and breakthroughs of the University’s rst 100 years, and looking ahead to how, collectively, will continue DAN GUERRERO lighting the way in Westwood, Los Angeles, across the country and around the world, for the next 100 years. e University o cially launched the year-long celebration in May with a full day of events that culminated in a spectacular projection show on the façade of our iconic Royce Hall. Athletics has begun looking back on the first 100 years of Bruin sports via the unveiling of our 100 Top Moments in UCLA Athletics history, highlighted on our social media channels and the website. Keep an eye out as we continue to reveal the remaining moments throughout the academic year. As we move into the 2019-20 season, our programs will celebrate the Centennial in various ways, including a dedicated Centennial Celebration at one home competition per sport, and alternate Centennial uniform options for many of our sports, thanks to our partners at Under Armour. In re ecting on UCLA’s impact over the past 100 years, I can’t help but think about how UCLA has been part of my own life for 50 years. When I was a boy growing up in Wilmington, in the heart of the Los Angeles Harbor, I became a fan by listening to my father tell me about the greatness of Jackie Robinson, both as a baseball player and as a person. I remember him telling me that because Jackie was a Bruin he always believed that UCLA was a school “for the people,” and that someone that looked like me, a minority, would be welcome at this university. Jackie made me want to be a Bruin, and going to UCLA was an incentive for me to do well in school and in sports. Getting the opportunity to play baseball for UCLA at Sawtelle Field — now Jackie Robinson Stadium — was the rst time I realized a dream. Now, as an athletic administrator, I may have a di erent de nition of success than some of my counterparts because of the perspective UCLA has given me. is university is unique in that success here is measured in many ways, beyond the number of championships won. Fueled by a spirit of innovation and inclusion, UCLA seeks excellence in every endeavor, from academic and athletic achievement to community service, equity and diversity. Success is excellence in any of these, in all of these. Success is making the world a better place and having an impact beyond the eld or court of competition. is is the University that embraced barrier breakers like Arthur Ashe, Jackie Robinson and Ann Meyers Drysdale, just to name a few. As the athletic director at UCLA, one of the greatest perks I could ever receive was never written in my contract. It was the privilege, for the rst eight years of my tenure here, of regularly spending time with Coach Wooden. Over breakfast or lunch, at his home or at games or meets in Pauley, I would seek his counsel and try to absorb his wisdom. We never talked about basketball — ever. Sometimes, we talked about baseball, but most of the time, our conversations were centered on family and life. I found solace with him, and I would often ask his advice on a variety of topics. He never gave it to me — never told me what to do — but I always walked away with the answer I sought, simply based on the questions he asked. He had an uncanny ability to deliver in that way. It’s a unique skill that very few people possess, and I’m so grateful that I was able to experience it and to build a relationship with him. UCLA shaped my life. It saved my life. It caused me to have a better life. ere’s no adequate way to articulate what it means to me, and I know there are countless others who feel the same way. For that, we celebrate 100 years of pioneering, persevering and optimism, and we look toward the next century with expectations tting of UCLA. Go Bruins! Dan 1 BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 INSIDE this ISSUE VOL 6 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2019 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF CONTENTS UCLA ATHLETICS WRITERS: JON GOLD, EMILY LERNER, STEVE BISHEFF COVER PHOTO BY ASUCLA MANAGING EDITOR: DANNY HARRINGTON [email protected] LAYOUT & DESIGN: LEARFIELD IMG COLLEGE 4 8 12 KRISTY MARQUES, SARAH JANE SNOWDEN, JASON CRISLER, RICHARD GROVES, UCLA ATHLETICS IN PHOTOS COURTNEY BIRNBAUM, KIMBERLY SANDERS, Featuring the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and RYAN ALVES, CASEY CASTLE their victory in the World Cup Final, UCLA’s softball team’s 13th NCAA title, and UCLA football players ADVERTISING: 16 during Pac-12 Football Media Day. LEARFIELD IMG COLLEGE DAMON DUKAKIS THE WOODEN EFFECT (310) 825-0328 34 Nearly 10 years since his passing, John Wooden’s [email protected] impact at UCLA is as strong as ever. MARK YOUR CALENDAR Find out what UCLA upcoming events are happening this fall. 30 FIVE QUESTIONS 22 WITH RACHEL GARCIA THE TRUST A Q&A with the winner of FACTOR the 2019 Collegiate Woman For UCLA’s trio of new Bruin Olympic Athlete of the Year Award and sports coaches, building relationships the prestigious Honda Cup. with their student-athletes is paramount. 26 UCLA’s Robert Brandt has STANDING blossomed into one of the nation’s TALL best distance runners. 2 www.uclabruins.com BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 4 www.uclabruins.com @UCLAAthletics /uclaathletics /UCLA.athletics /uclaathletics BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 WORLD BEATERS The U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM celebrates after capturing its second-straight FIFA Women’s World Cup on July 7. The Americans downed the Netherlands, 2-0 before a sold-out crowd of 57,900 spectators in Franceís Stade de Lyon. Former UCLA players Abby Dahlkemper (bottom left) and Sam Mewis (back row middle) started the game for Team USA, while Bruin Mal Pugh (front row, third from left) came off the bench in the victory. (Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) INSET LEFT: Former UCLA head coach and current U.S. Women’s National Team head coach JILLIAN ELLIS celebrates after leading her team to victory in the World Cup Final. Ellis, who served as the Bruins’ coach from 1999-2010, led UCLA to eight straight NCAA Final Four appearances during her tenure in Westwood (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images). INSET RIGHT: SAM MEWIS (left) and ABBY DAHLKEMER (right) embrace after Team USA’s 2-0 victory over the Netherlands. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images) In addition to the U.S. players, other Bruins competing in France were Rosie White (New Zealand), Jessie Fleming (Canada) and Teagan Micah (Australia). 5 8.29 AT CINCINNATI 4:00PM 9.7 SAN DIEGO ST. 1:15PM CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 9.14 OKLAHOMA 5:00PM TROY AIKMAN COIN GIVEAWAY 9.21 AT WASHINGTON ST. 9.28 AT ARIZONA 10.5 OREGON STate ZERO WASTE DAY 10.17 AT STANFORD 6:00PM 10.26 ARIZONA ST. HOMECOMING & BRUIN FAMILY WEEKEND 11.2 COLORADO VETERAN & ARMED FORCES APPRECIATION 11.16 AT UTAH 11.23 fall is for AT USC 11.30 football CALIFORNIA SENIOR SALUTE www.UCLAbruins.com/tickets (310) UCLA-WIN BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 8 www.uclabruins.com @UCLAAthletics /uclaathletics /UCLA.athletics /uclaathletics BRUIN BLUE FALL 2019 PARTY CRASHERS Facing hometown favorite and No. 1 Oklahoma in their own backyard, the second-seeded UCLA SOFTBALL TEAM captured the program’s 13th national championship on June 4, downing the Sooners 5-4 in the second game of a best-of-three WCWS Championship Series at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.