In February 2021, during an ESPN halftime interview at a UC Riverside Men's Basketball game, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Wesley Mallette offered something rare during a time of great uncertainty for the program: clarity, conviction, and a vision for the future. UCR Athletics was facing the threat of full elimination following an August 2020 recommendation from the university's Budget Advisory Committee to consider cutting the program as part of an effort to alleviate the financial stress the university was experiencing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Now, five years removed from that threat of elimination, UCR Athletics has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in The Big West Conference. Men's Basketball vaulted into the top third of the 11-team league under the direction of then head coach (and 2022-23 Big West Coach of the Year) Mike Magpayo, achieving the third best win-loss record during this five-year stretch, beating power conference and group of six teams like
Arizona State,
Colorado State, Nebraska,
Washington, and more; and reaching the postseason for the first time ever in 2025, making an appearance at the NIT. Additionally, two of Coach Magpayo's former student-athletes,
Zyon Pullin (Memphis Grizzlies) and
Lachlan Olbrich (Chicago Bulls) are now in the NBA with several more playing professionally in top leagues overseas.
Men's Basketball was not alone in this successful run. Women's Basketball finished the 2023-24 season with a WNIT berth, going 18-14 with a 12-game turnaround from last season, the biggest in program history. Soccer won both the Big West regular season title and conference tournament in 2022, advancing to the NCAA tournament for the second time in five seasons. Women's Golf's Tiffany Le reached the 2023 NCAA Women's Golf Championship and was ranked in the top 20 in the nation. Several former Men's Soccer and Baseball student-athletes are on MLS and MLB rosters, respectively. Former Women's Soccer student-athlete Quinley Quezada played in the 2023 World Cup (representing the Philippines). And the Track and Field/Cross Country program has established a consistent presence among the better teams in The Big West, sending multiple student-athletes to NCAA postseason competition.
Academically, under the direction of Senior Woman Administrator and Senior Associate AD,
Michelle Almazan, UCR student-athletes are soaring, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.22. Ten programs recently earned perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores while boasting program-wide scores of 984, 985, and 991 single-year APR scores in the past three reporting years, and the department's most recent Graduation Success Rate (GSR) is projected at 92 percent.
The keys to the program's overall resurgence? Building and executing the right strategy to move the program forward while making sure its 400 coaches, staff, and student-athletes never doubted they would be successful against seemingly insurmountable odds. That strategy was centered on ensuring there was alignment throughout the program, making a concerted effort to build strong internal culture, creating substantive engagement opportunities with all stakeholder groups, and focusing on the student-athlete experience. It marked a turning point for the program and launched a new era built on bold thinking, personal and professional accountability, operational efficiency, and creating the conditions for success.
Five years later, the department has made meaningful strides in every area.
"We've built something special here, and that is because of our people," Mallette said. "Our coaches, our staff, our student-athletes, and our partners have created a culture rooted in listening, caring, and meeting people where they are to help them get to where they need to be."
Beyond competitive and academic success, the holistic development of every student-athlete has been a priority. The department's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) has played an important role in cultivating community and inclusion. Mental health resources, development events, and academic support services have all expanded in scope and impact.
"Our responsibility is to provide the tools, the environment, and the support our student-athletes need to succeed during their time here and beyond," Mallette said. "This is ultimately about preparing them for life through sport."
There has also been a deliberate focus on aligning the department's direction with the university's broader mission. Rather than functioning as a standalone entity, UCR Athletics operates in close coordination with the campus' strategic vision. The department's strategic plan is aligned with that of the university, emphasizing student success, academic excellence, equity and inclusion, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
This alignment has strengthened the department's role as a vital contributor to the university's momentum. Mallette views one of his primary functions as an AD is to be a great partner to and collaborator with the Chancellor, campus, and community.
"UCR Athletics reflects the values and direction of this university," Mallette said. "Our student-athletes are incredibly proud to contribute to, represent, and elevate this campus and community."
Steady Leadership Through Change
Mallette's time as athletics director has coincided with one of the most volatile eras in intercollegiate athletics history in this current Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), revenue sharing, transfer portal, and House v. NCAA settlement era, in addition to rising operational costs.
In response to evolving demands, the department has:
·      Negotiated aÂ
five-year shoe and apparel deal with BSN SPORTS/Nike
·      Expanded sports medicine staffing and mental health support.
·      Strengthened academic advising and life-skills programming.
·      Increased donor engagement through University Advancement, resulting in record numbers of donations and the best fundraising year in program history.
·      Collaborated with campus departments on student-athlete wellness, safety, and career readiness.
·      Worked with the Recreation Department to help enhance key shared-use facilities such as the Student Recreation Center (SRC) where home games are played for Men's and Women's Basketball and Women's Volleyball.
AD'S QUARTERLY ADDRESS MAY 2022
The Road Ahead
UC Riverside approaches its 25
th year as a Division I program with several of the program's former student-athletes competing professionally, more championships within reach, and more students and alumni reengaging with the program.
Following the historic tenure of Mike Magpayo, who led UC Riverside Men's Basketball to its most successful era at the Division I level, Mallette hired one of the nation's best up-and-coming head coaches in Gus Argenal in 2025. Argenal, a seasoned leader with high-major and Big West experience, brings a proven record of postseason success, elite recruiting, and great energy to the program. Argenal's arrival signals a continued investment in competitive excellence while upholding the program's core values of integrity, development, and academic achievement.
The road ahead will not be easy, and there is still more work to be done.
"The challenges are still significant, but we have shown we can accomplish anything when we stay together and keep our focus on the mission of building and developing student-athletes for opportunities in life through sport,"Â Mallette said. "We may not have some of the luxuries other programs do, but it is truly amazing what can happen when you invest in your people. This has been quite a heavy lift, but I am incredibly proud of what our group of good humans has built together."
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