TABLE OF CONTENTS UCLA Announces Jackie Robinson Athletics and Recreation Complex Last November, UCLA named a series of recreation and athletics facilities in honor of Jackie Robinson, the legendary four-sport Bruin star who went on to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball and earn a place in the Hall of Fame. The naming ceremony included Rachel Robinson (above, right), the wife of Jackie Robinson, and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block (above, left). 2014-15 ANNUAL REPORT From the AD’s Desk 3 Capital Projects 12 2014-15 News 4 Wooden Athletic Fund 13 Sport-by-Sport Recap 6 In the News 30 Bruins in the Community 8 Corporate Sponsors 31 Academics and Life Skills 10 Wooden Athletic Fund 32 About the Annual Report Writing, editing and design by Alex Timiraos (Associate Director, Athletic Communication). Primary UCLA Retires Number 42 Across All Sports photography by Don Liebig (ASUCLA Campus Studio) and Scott Chandler. Photos also have been provided by Katie Meyers, Greg Turk and the NCAA. Special thanks to Neema Barbod, Ric Coy, Liza In honoring the enrollment of American sports pioneer Jackie Robinson to UCLA David, Emily Lerner, Taylor Swearingen and Ken Weiner for editorial assistance. 75 years ago, UCLA retired Robinson’s iconic No. 42 across all sports when naming the Jackie Robinson Athletics and Recreation Complex in Nov. 2014. “Jackie Robinson established a standard of excellence to which people the world DID YOU KNOW? UCLA closed the 2014-15 school year with a nation-leading 112 over should aspire,” said athletics director Dan Guerrero at the naming cer- NCAA team championships. The men’s water polo team won the school’s 112th NCAA emony. “On the 75th anniversary of Jackie’s arrival at UCLA, we want to ensure team title in Dec. 2014, defeating crosstown rival USC in the championship match. that his is a legacy to be upheld and carried forward by Bruins for generations UCLA became the first intercollegiate athletics department to capture 100 NCAA team to come. While he wore several numbers at UCLA, Jackie Robinson made the titles in May 2007 when the women’s water polo team won its third consecutive NCAA number 42 as iconic as the man himself. For that very reason, no Bruin will be Championship. issued the number 42 – in any sport – ever again.” 2 2014-15 UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics Annual Report FROM THE A.D.’S DESK Dear Bruins, In 2014-15, UCLA enjoyed one of the finest all- around athletic years of any Division I institution. Our department placed second in the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup (with six fewer eligible sports than first place Stanford) – its fourth consecutive top 10 finish and 20th overall in the award’s 22-year history – while also finishing in the top 10 of the Capital One Cup for both men and women. With our athletic and academic years now complete, I want to once again thank the Bruin Family for its passion, support and commitment. This past season, our football team played the nation’s hardest schedule, posting a second consecutive school record-tying 10-win season en route to a top 10 Think about that – penalty kicks, a final-second penalty Off the field, we’ve been thrilled to see both the national finish. In spring, the men’s basketball team shot and groundstrokes down the stretch landing just Wasserman Football Center and Mo Ostin Basketball made its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA beyond the end-line. Those are the differences between Center projects become reality less than two years Tournament’s Sweet 16. All told, four Bruin teams winning and losing on the scoreboard, between raising removed from our campaign announcements to raise entered the postseason as the No. 1 overall seed a trophy high above one’s head or thinking about what private funds for these two state-of-the art facilities. (baseball, women’s soccer, men’s and women’s water could have been and, ultimately, between becoming a At the time of the official groundbreaking, more than polo). Seven teams earned top 5 national finishes and media darling or a critic’s target. I, for one, could not $55 million in funding had been secured towards the 12 concluded their seasons ranked in the top 10. be prouder of these teams’ efforts or the fact that, of the student-athletes on those three national runner- $65 million phase-two Wasserman Football Center The Bruin men’s water polo team won UCLA’s record up teams, 14 received their diplomas this past June. fundraising goal, while more than $16 million in funding 112th NCAA Championship in the fall. Three teams had been secured towards the $25 million fundraising finished second nationally – men’s soccer fell to Virginia In all, 134 student-athletes at UCLA walked across the goal for the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. on penalty kicks, women’s water polo lost by a single stage in Pauley Pavilion in 2015, having successfully When we announced the capital campaigns for these goal scored on a penalty shot in the game’s final 11 completed this chapter of their lives; ready to embark projects, I mentioned that our Bruin alumni and seconds, and women’s tennis battled to the very end upon their next adventure. Now that is the ultimate friends, time and again, have consistently stepped of their championship match. victory. up when called upon to help shape our future. This undertaking has been no exception. More than just a groundbreaking, this is confirmation that UCLA will continue as the premier intercollegiate athletics program in the nation while remaining a force to be reckoned with well into the future. At UCLA, we understand the significance of these four letters – the tradition, the progressiveness and the all-around excellence that they represent. Your continued support is invaluable to us. I sincerely look forward to seeing you at our venues in the coming year, supporting the efforts of our student-athletes and coaches across all of our great programs. Thank you and Go Bruins! Dan Guerrero 2014-15 UCLA Intercollegiate Athletics Annual Report 3 2014-15 NEWS Men’s Water Polo Downs USC, Wins 2014 NCAA Title Bruins take home their first NCAA championship since 2004, the ninth title in program history The UCLA men’s water polo team brought home its ninth NCAA championship with a thrilling 9-8 victory over six-time defending champion USC on Dec. 6 at UC San Diego’s Canyonview Aquatic Center. Playing in the NCAA title match for the fourth time in six seasons, the Bruins secured the victory as junior Danny McClintick led all scorers with four goals before earning tournament MVP honors. But the game-winning goal came from sophomore Gordon Marshall, who found the back of the cage from two-meters with just 34 seconds to play, snapping an 8-8 tie. UCLA made one final defensive top on the next possession before the postgame celebration began. “From our standpoint, it takes a long time to get to this,” UCLA head coach Adam Wright said. “There’s been so many guys that have come so close that aren’t here anymore, but they are still a part of this. They helped build the mentality of this team, the culture of this team, moving right into our eight seniors.” UCLA concluded its 2014 season with a 29-3 overall record and a perfect 8-0 mark in MPSF play. The Bruins earned their first NCAA title since 2004, coincidentally the last time that UCLA went “It’s just the last goal of the game,” Marshall said. Danner, Marshall and McClintick were honored as undefeated in conference action. “Nothing more special than the eight goals before it. first-team All-NCAA Tournament Team selections. To put the team ahead is definitely big, but as you Seniors Cristiano Mirarchi and Paul Reynolds secured Against the Trojans in the championship match, UCLA can see in the pool, all the goals are celebrated in the second-team acclaim. For the Bruins’ head coach, never trailed. In fact, the Bruins twice led by as many same way.” UCLA’s championship win marked his first NCAA title as three goals in the second half (6-3 and 7-4). But since he played four seasons on the men’s water USC answered each time, tying the contest at 7-7 Sophomore goalkeeper Garrett Danner finished with polo team from 1997-2000. As a student-athlete at with 3:32 to play in regulation. McClintick scored his nine saves for the Bruins. UCLA also received goals UCLA, Wright helped lead the Bruins to back-to-back fourth goal with 3:13 to go, pushing the Bruins ahead, from freshman Matt Farmer, senior David Culpan and NCAA championships in 1999 and 2000. 8-7, before USC answered with a goal on the next sophomore Jack Fellner. possession (2:50). UCLA advanced to the NCAA title game after defeating “We’ve got a great collection of stories with that group,” Wright said, in reference to this team’s eight Marshall’s game-winner came on an entry pass UC San Diego, 15-6, in a semifinal matchup one day seniors. “Really, I was just along for the ride. These from McClintick. With the shot clock winding down, prior. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament guys, what they’ve done, following the leadership of Marshall took the pass and slammed a shot past after registering a 10-5 victory over USC in the third- the great eight, it’s been pretty special.” goalkeeper McQuin Baron to put UCLA ahead, 9-8.