DON'T FORGET `LITTLE' GUYS.

Byline: LEE BARNATHAN University Beat

Congratulations, Dan Guerrero, on being named UCLA athletic director. Hope you're ready to give attention to sports other than football and men's basketball.

Many of the Olympic-sport coaches, frustrated at what they see as a lack of support, money and respect in the last 19 years, spoke candidly and anonymously about what they would like to see in you.

Many of those who spoke acknowledged the tremendous role football and men's basketball play in putting UCLA on the athletic map and producing revenue.

They just want a voice. They feel that, as the backbone of the UCLA tradition - the ones that ensured Sports Illustrated naming UCLA the top ``jock school'' in 1997 - they have earned it.

They point to UCLA's national championships. The athletic program has won 107, by far more than any other university. Of these, football won one (1954) and men's basketball has 11. That's just 11.2 percent. Men's volleyball has won 18 NCAA titles and three USVBA titles. Men's tennis has won 15 NCAAs.

Coaches also are disappointed they weren't asked for input during the selection process.

In other words, as one coach put it: ``Acknowledge the little people. Know the gardener's name. Appreciate the fact that people on Olympic sports may not produce revenue, but UCLA's reputation is based on how many national-championship teams, national champions, Olympians there are in a year.''

Here's how to change that:

--It begins with money: According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average base salary for full-time coaches at UCLA is $73,590 for men's sports and $60,266 for women's sports.

The Daily News compared that to nine other schools the coaches mentioned. Only Utah's women's-sport coaches make less.

One coach said the school's attitude has been, ```You should be so lucky to be here.' Is (men's volleyball coach) Al Scates the highest-paid coach in the country? I doubt it. Olympic coaches need 20 to 40 percent (more) to match our peers.''

Women's volleyball is a fine example of how coaches see UCLA has fallen behind the times. Once, the Bruins were the program, winning three AIAW titles in four years and three NCAA titles in an eight-year span. Andy Banachowski will enter his 36th year this fall with a record of 919-221 (.806). He has more victories than any women's coach.

And yet, not since 1991 have the Bruins won a title, although they reached two finals. Meanwhile, Stanford has won five times, Long Beach State has won twice, and schools such as Nebraska (twice) and Penn State (once) - more known as football schools - also have won.

--Pay attention to facilites: Texas has built a multimillion-dollar softball stadium. Meanwhile, UCLA's Easton Stadium has bleachers and no lights.

The gym in the Wooden Center needs better equipment. The one swimming and 12 water polo national crowns come despite some of the worst facilities. One coach called it ``an atrocity.''

--Bonuses: Coaches also would like to see some sort of incentive structure in place.

They know other schools reward their coaches for winning a conference or reaching a certain level of the postseason. UCLA currently gives coaches bonuses only for winning a national championship, and the amount varies.

--How to raise the money: The coaches have a few ideas.

First, make a change in the marketing department. Do away with the intern program that helps sell tickets and publicize Olympic sports. Instead, hire someone full-time. That way, there's continuity beyond the 18 months one person is in place.

That won't bring in additional funds, but it will help with step two: There needs to be a more organized outreach to alumni, the coaches say. An athletic director committed to all sports can tap fans of all sports for donations.

Coaches are responsible for finding new leads, then turning them over to fund-raisers. They want more help from the department.

``We need someone who is as excited about going to a crew regatta as going to the Rose Bowl,'' one coach said. ``The alumni need to get reconnected to this university. If we have the most illustrious athletic program, why aren't we bringing in more money?''

Of course, the coaches aren't speaking their minds to stir up trouble: They care about their sports and the athletic department as a whole.

It's your duty to listen and acknowledge them.

HOW UCLA PAY COMPARES

School Avg. men's sport salary Avg. women's sport salary

UCLA $73,590 $60,266

Alabama $241,014 $75,418

Arizona $224,443 $71,219

Florida $531,869 $122,623

Georgia $91,004 $77,098

Nebraska $89,665 $64,902

Oklahoma $94,331 $68,480

Oregon State $155,016 $64,593

Stanford $124,350 $80,896

Texas $436,363 $138,918

Utah $118,658 $50,795

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

HOW UCLA PAY COMPARES (see text)

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education