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Briefs: UCI’s Bibona promoted

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Former UC Irvine All-American pitcher Danny Bibona has been promoted from volunteer assistant coach to full-time assistant, Anteaters Coach Mike Gillespie announced on Tuesday.

Bibona, a volunteer pitching coach the past two seasons, including a run to the 2013 College World Series, takes the spot left by the departure of former full-time assistant Bob Macaluso, who is now at Cal State Bakersfield.

In addition, former UCI standout Eric Deragisch shifts from director of operations to volunteer assistant and Evan Brock, who was a senior pitcher last season, is the new director of operations.

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“Promoting Danny to full-time was an easy decision to make,” Gillespie said. “He knows what needs to be done both on the field and in the classroom to be successful at UCI and he will do what he has been doing since he returned to the program, which will be to work with our pitchers.”

Last season, Bibona’s pitching staff, including All-American starter Andrew Morales and All-American closer and national saves leader Sam Moore, posted the lowest earned-run avearge in program history (2.76). It marked only the second time that a UCI team has logged an ERA of better than 3.00. The previous best was 2.95, posted in 2011.

Bibona, the Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2009 and 2010, played for the Anteaters from 2007 to 2010 and is the school’s career leader in strikeouts. He had his professional career with the St. Louis Cardinals organization cut short by an arm injury.

The promotion will allow Bibona to recruit players, an activity from which volunteer coaches are restricted.

Deragisch, was the director of operations the last three seasons, after serving as a volunteer assistant coach in 2010.

— From staff reports

Ibarra represents

Former UC Irvine men’s soccer All-American Miguel Ibarra will compete for the U.S. men’s national team during two October fiendlies.

Ibarra, who produced 10 goals and 18 assists for the Anteaters in 2010 and 2011 and shared Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior, will represent Team USA against Ecuador on Oct. 10 in Hartford, Conn. and on Oct. 14 against Honduras in Boca Raton, Fla.

Ibarra scored twice for Minnesota United FC in a win over the San Antinoio Scorpions to earn North American Soccer League Player of the Week laurels last week. He then had a goal and earned the assist on the game-winning goal in a 3-2 win over the Ottowa Fury on Sunday.

Ibarra has eight goals, including two game-winners, and five assists this season for Minnesota, which sits atop the league standings. In 75 career matches for the team, 69 of which he has started, he has 13 goals and 10 assists.

Ibarra is the first NASL player since 2005 to be selected to compete for the national team.

— From staff reports

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