Ex-Wazzu skipper is new soccer coach

Eyeing a chance for the program's first winning record and tournament appearance, the athletics department hired former Washington State Coach Dan Tobias to head the University of Arizona soccer team.

Last week, Tobias, (who had a 0.495 winning percentage in Pullman) became the third coach of Arizona's youngest sport, which has yet to earn a winning record or a spot in the NCAA tournament. Under the Wildcats' last coach, Cathy Klein, the team improved its record each year, but it never won more than two Pac-10 matches in a single season. Klein resigned from the post last month.

Tobias, the second winningest coach in Wazzu history, led the Cougars to a 44-45-6 record (17-24-4 in the Pac-10) in five years at the helm, including NCAA bids in 2000 and 2002. Last year WSU finished with an 11-7-2 record and was fifth in the Pac-10 with a record of 5-2-2.

Before taking over at Washington State ÷ his first head-coaching gig ÷ Tobias was an assistant at his alma mater, Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo. Tobias has also held the positions of head coach and general manager for the California Jaguars, a Division II affiliate of Major League Soccer's San Jose Clash (now the San Jose Earthquakes).

Tobias is also a member of the United States Soccer Federation, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the Latin America Soccer Coaches Association.

Volleyball schedule released, challenging

The volleyball team's road to Dallas and the Final Four is slated to begin next season with a tournament in Malibu, a pair of home tourneys, matches with defending conference champions, Final Four squads and the round-robin tour through the tough Pac-10 conference.

Last week, Arizona released its 30-match schedule, which begins the first weekend of school at Pepperdine and continues with two home tournaments and the Pac-10 schedule. The team's non-conference matches against 2002 Final Four team Hawaii and NCAA tournament team UC Santa Barbara should provide challenging breaks from conference play.

At the Waves' tournament, the Wildcats face defending Big East champion Notre Dame along with Eastern Washington, which finished the 2002 season ranked 24th. The UA will also face 2002 NCAA tournament teams in Miami, American University and Santa Clara.

In addition to the loaded non-conference slate, the Wildcats hope to use the Pac-10 season to try and prep for a run at a fourth straight Elite Eight appearance. The "conference of champions" features eight tournament teams from a year ago, including Stanford, a Final Four team from a year ago, and national champion USC.