Arcadia's Speraw Gets UCLA Head Coach Job

graduate John Speraw, who coached UC Irvine to its third NCAA men’s volleyball championship this season, will replace the legendary Al Scates as head coach at UCLA.

Speraw, 40, spent 10 seasons at UCI and compiled a record of 199-106. In addition to this season, Irvine also won national titles in 2007 and 2009. In 2006, Speraw was named national coach of the year.

After starring in both basketball and volleyball at Arcadia, Speraw went on to UCLA, and, as a player, helped the Bruins win two of the 19 national championships they won under Scates, who retired after 50 years at UCLA.

Speraw served as an assistant coach under Scates at UCLA before taking the head coaching job at Irvine. Now he is returning to his alma mater.

“It is a great honor to be asked to lead one of the greatest programs in NCAA sports history,” Speraw said in a statement. “Al Scates is a great friend and mentor. I hope to continue its legacy of producing great championship teams."

The hiring of Speraw was announced by UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, formerly the athletic director at Irvine.

In 1990, when Speraw was a senior at Arcadia, the volleyball team finished the season with a 19-0 record and its second CIF championship in three years.