Wallace bids fond farewell

Natalie Venegas

Barry Wallace technically retired two years ago. But 37 years of

involvement in athletic competition is not something he could easily

leave behind.

That is why he stuck around two more years.

Wallace left his teaching job at Orange Coast College two years

ago, but worked out a deal in which he would continue coaching an

extra two years.

Those two years are up.

Wallace, who has been involved with OCC athletics since attending

as a student more than 30 years ago, wrapped up his final season as

OCC’s golf coach Monday.

Wallace played football and baseball at Newport Harbor High. He

moved on to OCC, where he made a name for himself as a football and

baseball player.

When Wallace’s two years at OCC were up, he transferred to Long

Beach State, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree.

A year after receiving his degree, he began coaching football,

baseball and teaching physical education at Marina High.

In 1969, while Wallace was at work earning a master’s degree at

Long Beach State, he accepted a job at OCC as a baseball coach.

“I wanted to go back,” he said. “My experiences there as a student

were very, very good, and I knew it would be a great place to work.”

Wallace coached OCC baseball for nine years, then moved on to

badminton and soccer.

In 1989, when OCC’s athletic dean moved on to counseling, the

position was left open. A vote was conducted by the athletic division

and Wallace was promptly moved up to athletic director.

“It was a very educational experience for me,” he said. “It was a

very big and complicated job, but I learned a lot about what goes on

in the school.”

As athletic director, Wallace, along with Gordie Fitzel, began the

women’s golf program at OCC.

Wallace had been an athletic director for eight years when the

opportunity to return to coaching arose.

Dick Tucker retired as head coach of the men’s golf team, and

Wallace stepped in.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” he said. “I enjoyed

coaching a sport I was still learning.”

The OCC team finished 4-12 overall this season and was eighth out

of nine teams in the Orange Empire Conference.

“It was his last year and he would have wanted to go out with a

better record,” OCC golfer Peter Baker said. “But [Wallace] was happy

with your performance as long as you gave your 100%, and didn’t get

mentally beat.”

Wallace said his team was simply overpowered by a depth of talent

in the conference this spring.

Of the 36 players who competed in the conference tournament April

25, 21 shot par of better.

“The problem was our conference, because this team was very

solid,” Wallace said. “It was the best I have had.”

Wallace’s time at OCC has come to an end, but he looks forward to

the future, when he will get more time to spend with his family,

including eight grandchildren.

After two years of coaching past his retirement, Wallace is ready

to say goodbye. But his values will live on at OCC.

“He left us with good etiquette, his standards, good respect for

the sport and he always wanted to represent OCC well,” Baker said.

“He knows what he’s doing.”