COLLEGES:

After what has to have been a frustrating fortnight, Mike Gillespie will be officially introduced as UC Irvine baseball coach Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Anteater Ballpark.

Word of Gillespie’s hiring was reported two weeks ago, but it took some time for University of California administrators, a separate body from the UC Irvine administration, to approve Gillespie’s contract.

Gillespie, who has already confirmed that former UCI assistant Pat Shine will join his staff as associate head coach, has yet to announce who will be the pitching coach.

Among other things, Gillespie still has to finalize the team’s 2008 schedule, which will open with a three-game series, beginning Feb. 22, at Nevada.

Gillespie, who guided USC to a 763-471-2 record, 15 postseason appearances, four trips to the College World Series, including the 1998 national title, in 20 seasons as head coach at USC, will guide the Anteaters against the Trojans in games Feb. 27 (at UCI) and March 12 at USC.

Gillespie, whose departure from USC was announced as a retirement, has said he will not look forward to competing against his former school, where he also played. The Trojans are coached by his son-in-law, Chad Kreuter.

The 67-year-old Gillespie, however, has said he is certainly looking forward to returning to the helm of a college program.

And UCI players, who have been working out virtually on their own since school began Thursday, are, no doubt, anxious to get to know Gillespie and his staff, as they prepare to attempt to return to Omaha, Neb., the site of the College World Series, where a momentous 47-17-1 campaign in 2007 ended.

 The UC Irvine men’s and women’s basketball teams will introduce themselves to the public Friday during “Midnight Magic” at Crawford Court at 9 p.m.

The event, which has a 1980s theme, includes free food for the first 500 attendees, games and prizes, ’80s music and movies and the first opportunity to sign up for the Completely Insane Anteaters rooters.

The basketball players and coaches will be introduced and the teams will conduct drills and competitions, including scrimmages, a three-point shooting contest and a dunk contest.

Crawford Court is being used, because the Bren Events Center is undergoing renovations, including replacement of the hardwood floor. The Bren Center is scheduled to be ready Nov. 11.

 The Orange Coast College football team returns to action Saturday, after the traditional midseason bye week.

Coach Mike Taylor’s Pirates (2-3) most assuredly need a new beginning after a three-game losing streak.

In addition, one of their victories was obtained when Citrus, a 27-10 winner on the field in the season opener, forfeited for using an ineligible player.

The Pirates, who face an uphill battle against Mission Conference American Division powers Palomar (4-1) and Fullerton (4-1), the next two Saturdays, respectively, as well as El Camino (4-1), Nov. 3 at home, will need to awaken an anemic offense that ranks last in the 12-team Mission Conference in passing yards (134.8 per game), 11th in total offense (256.8 yards per game) and 11th in scoring (16.6 points per game) and touchdowns (10).

By contrast, OCC ranks second in the conference in total defense (269.8 yards allowed per game), third in rushing defense (82.4 per game) and fifth in passing defense (187.4 per game).

OCC is last in the conference in turnover ratio (minus nine).

 UC Irvine senior men’s water polo standout Tim Hutten still ranks second in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation in scoring with 3.7 goals per game. This despite being held scoreless Saturday by UCLA and also scoring no goals in a Sept. 27 nonconference win at Long Beach State.

Hutten, an All-American who has become the subject of increasing defensive focus, has scored three goals in the last three games.

The two-meter man entered the Long Beach State game leading the nation in scoring with 4.86 goals per game.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].