Peter Dalis (2008) - Hall of Fame

Peter Dalis

Induction:
2008

By the time Peter Dalis retired in June of 2002, he had brought UCLA Athletics to the national forefront, establishing himself as one of the most successful leaders in UCLA's storied athletic history. During his 19 years as Athletic Director, UCLA won 39 NCAA Championships (22 men's and 17 women's) in 14 different sports, crediting him with a remarkable 37% of UCLA's total titles. Dalis' other accomplishments include: Bruin teams capturing 108 Pac-10 Conference titles, the football program advancing to 12 bowl games and winning eight; guiding the basketball program to 15 NCAA Tournament appearances; and UCLA placing among the Top-5 in all nine years of the Sears Director's Cup competition. Dalis' successes were not limited to the playing fields. When he became Athletic Director in 1983, UCLA had no endowed scholarships. Under his direction, UCLA endowed 174 grants-in-aid through private donations, growing the endowment principal to $24 million in 2002. Furthermore, Dalis was instrumental in the development of several athletic facilities on campus, including: the Morgan Center renovation, The John Wooden Recreation Center, The Bud Knapp Football/Acosta Center, the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, and the Drake Stadium soccer field. During Dalis' tenure, UCLA moved into the top spot in terms of NCAA team championships after trailing by 20 NCAA titles when he became Athletic Director in 1983. Even the media recognized Dalis' impact, when in 1997 Sports Illustrated selected UCLA as the #1 Athletic University in the country.