It’s been a whirlwind of activity for Greg Paules since he stepped into the role of UC Riverside’s director of intercollegiate athletics nearly six months ago. But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Paules has been eager to get to know the campus, the community, student athletes, and athletics staff while moving the program forward.
“I’m just trying to dive in, learn as much as I can, see where I can help in the short term, and then set us up for long-term success,” he said.
Paules, who most recently served as senior associate athletics director and athletics’ chief operating officer at Cal State Fullerton, joined UCR in March when the spring season was in full swing.
He got the opportunity to see Highlanders baseball, softball, tennis, golf, and track and field in action. He’s looking forward to the fall start of soccer and volleyball, and basketball later in November.
Paules said he’s excited about the women’s soccer team, describing them as young with talent while calling women’s volleyball a fun team with great energy. Meanwhile, the men’s soccer team will have a chance to grow as part of the Pac 12, where they will be playing nationally ranked teams, he said.
With the recent hiring of baseball coach Greg Wallis, Paules has a full team of 10 coaches and a total staff of about 75.
“I’m excited about the energy that each of the teams have brought back,” he said. “The student athletes are raring to go.”
Ultimately, Paules is a sports fan for whom part of the joy of the job is talking after games with other athletics staff in the office.
His sports journey began at age 5 when he began playing soccer. He later played basketball and baseball at La Salle High School in Pasadena before joining UC Irvine where he worked in the administrative side of the athletics department then professionally for eight years after graduation. Paules is a diehard fan of the two storied LA teams, the Lakers and the Dodgers. His office bookcase includes several pieces of team memorabilia including signed baseballs, a Joe Kelly bobblehead, and a personally autographed book by former Dodger Brett Butler.
Paules said he’s made a point to regularly roam the hallways of the athletics building, stop in at practices, and walk around campus, meeting with as many campus leaders as possible.
He’s already experienced one Highlander rite of passage, running into a pack of donkeys while walking from his office to a parking lot, which he Facetimed to show his daughters.
As he’s studied the sports facilities, Paules has looked for opportunities to make improvements where possible. New safety netting and padding was recently added behind the softball field while the Student Recreation Center is installing a new video board in the basketball arena. Paules also hopes to add a batting cage, upgrade locker and weight rooms, and make some video and technology improvements.
Paules has been going out into the greater Riverside and Inland Empire community to meet with supporters, including donors who he believes will help with some of those efforts.
“There’s good bones in our facilities, but we’ve just got to realize some of these opportunities and I think that will aid in our competitiveness and our fan experience,” he said.
Paules sees an opportunity to create more community excitement through UCR’s rivalry with Cal Baptist University and has met a few times with his counterpart there, creating a friendly competition.
Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson recently announced the Crosstown Showdown that will celebrate the rivalry between the two campuses by awarding points in each matchup in multiple sports over the academic year. The university with the most points will be crowned the champion and awarded the mayor’s trophy.
UCR will host the first matchup, with the women’s soccer team playing Cal Baptist University on Sept. 26.
While Paules has a strong competitive streak, he said it’s just as important to remember that sports should be fun. He recently took part in a scavenger hunt for the women’s basketball team where he was on the list, although he admits he didn’t make it easy.
“There’s time to take things seriously and get after it, but you’ve got to do it with a sense of joy and optimism,” he said.
Paules said he sees huge potential for UCR’s athletics program going forward.
“Our opportunity to represent not only UC Riverside but this Inland Empire community is right there for the taking,” he said. “I don’t just want us to get a little bit better on the margins. I want us to try and shoot for the stars and see where we end up.”
