UC Davis Baseball Resumes Practice Amid Ongoing Hazing Investigation

UC Davis on Monday announced its baseball team would be allowed to begin practice and some other team activities while the school continues its investigation into allegations of misconduct and hazing.

In mid July, UCD suspended the baseball program and placed the coaching staff on administrative leave pending an investigation. While the university has not specified what misconduct prompted the investigation, chancellor Gary S. May said at the time the allegations were “primarily related to hazing” and athletic director Rocko DeLuca on Monday wrote that as the team returns to action, it will be closely monitored to ensure compliance with the University’s rules prohibiting hazing.”

While the team is allowed to resume practice, the UCD coaching staff remains on leave. In their place, UCD has a trio of interim coaches: Tony Bloomfield, Randy Choate and Ray McIntire. Bloomfield was head coach at Cosumnes River (Calif.) JC for 19 seasons before retiring in 2017. Choate pitched in the big leagues for 15 years and now lives in Davis, Calif. McIntire spent the last three years as the volunteer assistant at San Diego and previously served as Arizona’s director of operations.

DeLuca gave no update on the timeline for the investigation, which is being run by the UCD office of compliance and policy. Previously, the university said the review of the program is expected to “last for the first couple months of the fall quarter,” which began Sept. 22.

May wrote in his letter in July that “appropriate action” will be taken at the conclusion of the investigation.

“Let me be clear that whenever there are credible allegations of misconduct of any kind, the university will take appropriate steps to review those claims,” he wrote. “The university has a posture of zero tolerance with respect to hazing. Our students’ health and well-being is our No. 1 priority.”

The Aggies in 2021 went 14-43 and finished in last place in the Big West at 8-32. They lost 10 of their last 11 games and finished with their worst record since 2009.