10 questions with Mike Millerick

Mike Millerick of Lockeford is the Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting at the University of the Pacific. Millerick, who has worked in Pacific's athletic department for 19 years, also does radio broadcasts for basketball, baseball, soccer and volleyball games.

Mike Millerick

Millerick graduated from Lodi in 1985 and from Pacific in 1990 (Miller noted that J.D. Fox, from Lodi, also does some of the radio broadcasts).

Q: You've been at Pacific for more than 20 years. How special has it been with the men's basketball team advancing to the NCAA basketball tournament the last three years?

A: It's been incredible to be a part of it. It's been great to be able to watch them reach that level and to watch the coaching staff help them get there.

It's so much more work when you go to the tourney, but you love to do it. It's more fun and a great benefit of the job. It's also great exposure for the school.

Q: Will Pacific go the Big Dance for a fourth straight year?

A: They definitely have a chance. This year they had the toughest schedule going into conference and they're 2-1 in conference. They have some talented players and some young talented players.

Q: What's your travel schedule like during the basketball season?

A: I'm usually on the road (even outside of basketball season) every other week.

There are a lot of bus trips and sometimes a flight. Sometimes a bus ride can be better, with all the time it takes to get to the airport and you have to be there early.

On a bus ride we watch a movie and the players can bond a little better.

Q: What's your most memorable moment at Pacific?

A: I have a couple. One would be the women's volleyball team playing for national championship in 1990. That was a special group of women on that team. They lost to UCLA in the final, but to see them get to that level was pretty exciting.

Next would be the men's basketball team in 2004 winning against Providence in the first round of the tournament. It was a pretty big upset.

Q: Who's your favorite athlete during your tenure at Pacific?

A: Elaina Oden (former volleyball star who played on Pacific's national championship teams in 1985 and '86 and also played in the Olympics).

She was one of my favorite athletes and people. She bleeds Pacific. She's been a great representative for the university.

Q: Do you have any aspirations of becoming an athletic director?

A: I really enjoy what I'm doing right now. If an opportunity came up at a high school or college, then maybe down the road.

Q: Have you had any big blunders on radio?

A: Nothing to bad. Nothing that would embarrass my mom. But I feel real bad when I mess up names.

Q: Do you see Pacific ever picking up football again?

A: Football is a big part of Pacific's history that I look back fondly on. (Dropping the program) was something that was done for a reason. (The program was dropped due to financial hardships.)

Q: With all the press releases sent out, how much paper does an athletic department go through?

A: The funny thing is, and we write a lot, but with the innovation of e-mail and Web sites the paper usage has gone down.

But it's considerable.

Q: Lodi hosts Tokay in a basketball showdown on Friday. Do you have a prediction?

A: My heart is with Lodi. I have to go with Lodi. My apology to the Tigers.

First published: Wednesday, January 10, 2007