RIVERSIDE – The UC Riverside athletics department experienced some extreme highs and lows under former director Wes Mallette.
From avoiding the entire program’s demise to playing in its first men’s basketball National Invitational Tournament (NIT) and having to replace its highest-profile coach, the Highlanders are seemingly acclimated to the ebbs and flows of life in NCAA Division I.
Now, new interim athletic director Michelle Almazan wants to chart a calmer course forward.
“As much as (Mallette) was out there and he was the face of UC Riverside athletics,” Almazan said. “I’ll be cheering just as loud, but sometimes I’ll be in the background. I bring a different level of energy.”
With more than a decade of experience in UC Riverside’s athletics department, Almazan is uniquely suited to the new role.
“I’ve spent the past 10 years focused on the internal side of our operations, working with the student-athlete experience and student-athlete development,” Almazan said. “The last 5 years I’ve had the opportunity to serve with Wes as his (senior women’s administrator) and really learn more about the external side and our full operations.”
With one of the smallest athletics departments in the UC system, Almazan will now lean into what UCR does well.
“We have a small staff but I don’t focus on that,” she said. “We’re lean but that allows and gives us the opportunity to really experience all the facets of collegiate athletics.”
The university recently announced a partnership with GameFund, which allows coaches to connect with external donors who can give back directly to student-athletes.
“NIL is reshaping collegiate athletics in general. We’re trying to approach it with a realistic yet student-centered mindset,” Almazan said. “We’re not going to have the same scale of funding that some of these major programs might have, but we are going to do our part and do our best to give our student-athletes meaningful opportunities.”
Almazan said that UCR’s ‘RaiseTheRiv’ collective, started with external partners two years ago, and the new GameFund will enlarge the revenue share for student-athletes and provide opportunities to help keep Riverside competitive locally, within the Big West and on the national landscape.
“Externally, (California Baptist University) may look like it’s better resourced but we’re scrappy and we have connections, and we continue to build and we continue to be competitive,” Almazan said. “We may not have the financial investment but I say, ‘We don’t have that, yet.’ We were one of the first in the Big West to start a collective, so we’re growing (and) we’re out there and we’re not just keeping up. We’re going to keep winning.”
But will she ever try to pump up the crowd like her predecessor?
“I’ve been known to put on a sideline jersey and shag balls at soccer, if necessary,” Almazan said. “I’m going to be out there supporting our student-athletes and this is an opportunity to show who I am.”
ROSAS LEADS CBU
CBU junior distance runner Victor Rosas the season-opening Aztec Coastal Classic hosted by San Diego State on Friday, Aug. 29, crossing the finish line first in the 5-kilometer race in 21 minutes, 50 seconds .
The Western Athletic Conference’s athlete of the week, Rosas led a group of seven across the line at SDSU’s Mission Valley River Park course, located next to Snapdragon Stadium. The preseason No. 15-ranked Lancers totaled 11 of the race’s top 16 finishers.
A transfer from San Diego Mesa College, Rosas finished 225th at last year’s NCAA Division I Nationals and collected a pair of All-WAC honors during the outdoor season.
NEW YEAR FOR COYOTES
The Cal State San Bernardino women’s volleyball team opens its season Thursday at the Seaside Invitational at Point Loma Nazarene University.
After 27 consecutive seasons of 20-or-more wins including the 2019 NCAA Division II national championship and seven West Region titles — the Coyotes fell short of their standard with a 15-11 record in 2024.
Coach Kim Cherniss begins her 33rd season when CSUSB plays Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, followed by matches against Emporia State on Friday and Point Loma on Saturday.
SWEEP FOR REDLANDS
The University of Redlands women’s volleyball team wrapped up a perfect trip to Northern California after a three-set win to finish off the SlugFest Invitational at UC Santa Cruz.
The Bulldogs (3-0 overall) beat Lewis & Clark and UC Santa Cruz on Friday, and Occidental College 25-21, 25-12, 25-20 on Saturday behind nine kills and six blocks from freshman Lily Kautai, and 12 assists and 10 digs from sophomore Makenna Vanhofwegen.
Unbeaten after its first three matches for the first time since 2018, Redlands plays Pomona-Pitzer in a non-conference match on Friday.
ODDS & ENDS
CBU senior Mikayla O’Brien (Summit High) was named WAC women’s goalkeeper of the week after making seven saves in a 1-0 loss to South Dakota State on Thursday, Aug. 28. … Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s soccer team, last year’s CCAA regular season champions, received four first place votes to claim the top spot in the conference’s preseason coaches’ poll. … Claremont-Mudd-Scripps senior outside hitter Brooke McKee (Upland High) was selected the SCIAC volleyball player of the week honor after leading the Athenas to a 3-0 record with wins over NCAA Division III No. 25 Case Western, St. Olaf and Lake Forest at the Pacific Coast Classic. … Sophomore center Luke Bills (Redlands East Valley High) totaled 13 goals as the Riverside City College men’s water polo team (2-2 overall) beat Merced and Los Positas to conclude the Merced North vs. South Tournament.
Originally Published:
