UCLA recently made NCAA history when its athletic program became the first in the nation to win 100 NCAA titles.

For history buffs, it was women’s water polo that did the trick.

But over one-fifth of those crowns reside in offices 237-B and 237-F in the J.D. Morgan Center.

The occupants of those offices, UCLA women’s coach Andy Banachowski and Bruins men’s coach Al Scates, really need no introductions.

In their fourth decades as head coaches in Westwood, both have over 1,000 career victories to their credit. The two sport a combined winning percentage of .816 and between them have coached teams to 22 of the school’s 100 NCAA crowns—with Scates, of course, tied for first all-time with 19 NCAA single-sport titles to his credit (Arkansas men’s track coach John McDonnell has 19 NCAA men’s indoor track titles).

But while their success shouts loudly through numbers, their true measure as sport icons screams at even greater decibels through the words of current and former players and coaches.

The outpouring of comments and stories regarding both Banachowski and Scates for this article was simply overwhelming—easily enough to probably fill another 10 pages in this issue.

What is included below is just a minor sampling of how revered both men are and how they have greatly shaped the lives and careers of many athletes and coaches.

For starters take the case of Denny Cline. As a freshman, Cline remembers a moment he had with Scates after a tournament.

“One day Al puts his arm around me and says, ‘You know Denny, you don’t need to come back anymore,’” said Cline, a UCLA Volleyball Hall of Famer. “I wasn’t good enough to play.”

However, in true Scates form where everybody gets an opportunity to prove themselves. Cline gave it the old college try the next season and ended up lettering the next three years (1974-1976), helping lead UCLA to three straight NCAA titles.

“Al plays whoever can help win a championship,” said Cline, who has seven NCAA rings as either a player or coach at UCLA. “I always felt if I was that guy who could help us win, coach Scates would figure it out. He’s far from a dummy.”

Three-time Olympic gold medalist Karch Kiraly said one of the main that has stuck with him regarding Scates is the confident aura he gives off—a sentiment echoed by many.

“Al is really, really good at exuding confidence and calm and transmitting that to his players,” said Kiraly, a four-time All-American at UCLA. “It doesn’t matter how bad things get.”

Kiraly also spoke of Scates’ clairvoyant tendencies during matches.

“In a timeout he would say, ‘We’re going to run this play and after we win that point they will set this player and then we’ll block his line,’” said Kiraly. “It was scary how many times that would happen. He is an absolute master at developing game plans and analyzing opponents.”

“He specializes in putting the right people in the right place,” said former UCLA player and assistant coach and current UC Irvine men’s coach John Speraw, who is one of three individuals to win an NCAA men’s volleyball title as both a player and head coach.

Current AVP star Jeff Nygaard vividly remembers a missive he received from Scates.

“The year we lost in the final to Penn State he sent a letter that very week that said the goal was to win an NCAA title and the fact you took second is unacceptable,” said Nygaard, a three-time Olympian. “On that flight home he was already figuring out ways to win as a team next year. I still have the letter. He was born to win.

He doesn’t know how to do anything else.”

“Al is one of the fortunate people in life who find their niche,” said current UCLA men’s assistant Brian Rofer. “This isn’t a job for him. It’s a passion.”

Beach great Sinjin Smith remembers one specific incident from his freshman year that helped catapult his career forward.

“There was never any lack of competition in the gym,” said Smith, who helped lead UCLA to its first undefeated season in 1979. “That was one of the ways to get the most out of players. It happened to me as a freshman. I got sent over to the brown court (second team). I worked my butt off to get back to that first court. It never happened again. Al puts people in tough situations and if you respond the way he wants, he will put you in certain positions.”

Former beach standout Ricci Luyties, now the women’s coach at Southern Mississippi, said Scates helped shape his pro career.

“As far as my pro career, Al had a huge impact,” said Luyties, who won four NCAA titles at UCLA. “He taught me how to win and how to expect to win.”

Banachowski, now in his 41st season, played for Scates and was later an assistant on his staff.

“Al loves to win,” said Banachowski. “He was perfect for me to model my game after. He was all about competing and winning. It was easy to learn from him.”

Banachowski has done his fair share of winning as well. But for UCLA great and current pro beach coach Liz Masakayan, Banachowski’s resume was the last thing she wanted to talk about.

“I speak more of Andy’s character than his success,” said Masakayan, who was the 1985 Honda Award winner (best women’s college player). “I went on my recruiting trip and met him for the first time when I was 17. What stuck with me is that I could trust him. Andy is genuine. I was there for four years of my life. He was a solid guy that I could trust when I was a teenager. He’s a good coach, but he’s fair and kind.”

Current AVP player Jenny Johnson Jordan appreciated Banachowski’s handling of personalities.

“He knew when to light a fire under me and when to give me space to work things out,” said Johnson Jordan. “I respected that.”

Olympic bronze medalist Holly McPeak, who played one year at UCLA after transferring from Cal, said playing for Banachowski also prepared her for life after college.

“Andy recruited and got the most talented players and then made them compete hard every day against each other at practice,” said McPeak. “This made us all better and we had great battles every day. I loved his disciplined system. We always knew what to expect. It prepares you for the real world.”

Current UCLA senior Rachell Johnson is impressed by Banachowski’s willingness to adapt.
“What makes him a good coach is his flexibility,” said Johnson. “Andy adapts his system to his players and I think we are all better for it. He adapts to everybody’s strengths and weaknesses.”

Scates had little doubt his former after-practice doubles partner (Banachowski swears the duo never lost) would go on to have a successful coaching career.

“Andy is a real student of the game,” said said Scates, whose 45 straight winning seasons and 44 playoff appearances are believed to be collegiate records. “When he tried out for the team he didn’t know anything about volleyball. He was a swimmer and diver. But he was a good athlete who learned quickly. I knew he would be a good coach but I didn’t know he would be as good as he has turned out to be.”

Current Hawaii women’s assistant coach Mike Sealy had the unique opportunity to play for Scates and then to coach with both Scates and Banachowski in the same year (2005).

“Al is an example of Darwinism at its finest—25 to 30 kids in the gym and the strong are going to survive,” said Sealy, the 1993 ASICS®/Volleyball Monthly Player of the Year.

“He was an amazing game coach as far as preparation goes. And he’s very fair. Andy is just as meticulous as Al but even more so in fundamentals and technique, which is why he is successful on the women’s side. I’ve been fortunate to coach with two amazing people. I’ve got about 113 years of experience (including Hawaii women’s coach Dave Shoji) under my belt.”

Banachowski said his and Scates’ long-term success stems beyond coaching strategy and wins and losses. Instead, it has a lot to do with the letters U-C-L-A.

“I know we both have an intense desire to win and that comes from our own nature and it also comes from the environment we are in here at UCLA,” said Banachowski. “We’ve been allowed to do what we do here. The school is very supportive of the volleyball tradition that has been established here. Al has a huge chunk of those championships and I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to add a couple. It’s a great feeling to come to work here every day. There is a level of excellence that exists here.”

And Banachowski and Scates are card-carrying members of that elite club of excellence.

Sport legend Karch Kiraly starred for Scates prior to becoming professional beach volleyball’s all-time winningest player.
UCLA


Scates has led UCLA to 19 of the 36 men’s NCAA titles.
Jason Olive


Banachowski played for Scates at UCLA and later was an assistant coach for him on the men’s team.
UCLA


Banachowski’s UCLA teams have never had a losing season in his four decades at the helm.
UCLA


Sinjin Smith is one of many UCLA alums who have gone on to enjoy great success on the beach.
UCLA




Olympian Holly McPeak was part of a 1990 UCLA team that won the NCAA title.
Jessica Marshall