"Then, I got to thinking that I didn't see exactly what it was I was turning down, so I began discussions with [Kilkenny] again."
Serrano said he is happy at UCI and there are only a few jobs that would ever force him to consider leaving. But he said Oregon, which decided in June to resurrect a baseball program that's been dormant the last 26 years, could be one of those special jobs.
"I decided Oregon was something I had to see," Serrano said. "I've told [Oregon officials] my gut instinct is to remain at UC Irvine. They know there's a low percentage of me taking that job, but I owe it to my family to look at this opportunity. I have loyalty to a group of players and to this university, which has stepped up to make me and my staff happy here. This is not about UCI not stepping up."
Serrano said he will fly up Monday and leave Tuesday night for a planned vacation in Las Vegas. He said he would not make an immediate decision, but would need at least a few days to discuss any possible change with his family.
"I've apologized to the [UCI] administration about any uproar this may cause, but it was something I had to look at," Serrano said. "It's a special opportunity [at Oregon], though I think I have something pretty special here."
The Oregonian newspaper has reported that Kilkenny courted Vanderbilt Coach Tim Corbin, as well as Dave Brundage, a former Oregon State star who manages the Richmond Braves, a Class AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. But both have removed themselves from consideration.
