$5 million gift from alumnus and wife to transform future of UC Irvine baseball

Irvine, Calif., Jan. 23, 2025 - University of California, Irvine Athletics has received a gift of $5 million to further bolster its baseball program, which continues to cement itself among the best in NCAA Division I baseball. The donation, the largest in the history of UC Irvine Athletics, comes from Steve and Linda Borowski to found and name a new player development center.

"We are incredibly grateful for this transformative gift, which will have a lasting impact on the future of our baseball program," said Paula Smith, director of athletics. "This generous support underscores the unwavering commitment of Steve and Linda Borowski to providing our student-athletes with the resources and opportunities they need to excel both on and off the field. It's an investment in the growth, success and legacy of our program, and we are excited about the possibilities it will create."

UC Irvine baseball's bright past includes two Division II National Championships, nine 40-win seasons and 11 players who reached the major leagues. Recent highlights include 10 NCAA Division I postseason berths, serving as a 2009 regional host, four Super Regional berths, two trips to the Division I College World Series in 2007 and 2014, Big West titles in 2009 and 2021, and climbing to a No. 1 ranking in the nation.

Current head coach and UC Irvine Hall of Famer Ben Orloff has produced two of those regional appearances, one Big West title, 22 major league draft picks and six winning seasons in his six years of leadership.

"Steve Borowski and his support of UC Irvine baseball has already played such an integral role in the program reaching its current level of success. This latest contribution by Steve and Linda Borowski will change everything for the future of UC Irvine baseball and where it's headed," Orloff said. "This is such a great time for us to continue on the momentum of what our program achieved last year and build toward sustaining success for many years going forward."

Steve Borowski pitched for the Anteaters from 1976 to 1979, when he graduated. He was part of several important transitional moments for the program, including UC Irvine's reclassification to Division I status in 1978. He has been a UC Irvine trustee since the return of the baseball program in 2002 - after a 10-year hiatus - and throughout the 'Eaters' continued ascent over the next 22 years.

Now retired, Borowski was the president and co-founder of Aristotle Capital Management, a co-founder and managing partner at Metropolitan West Capital Management LLC, and managing director at Palley-Needelman Asset Management Inc. He's an avid community supporter, serving on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation.

"I've been involved with UC Irvine baseball for nearly 50 years. What makes you return are the people - the coaches, staff and student-athletes. It's much more than what takes place between the lines. It's people who will have an impact on each other and on their communities long after," Borowski said. "It's an honor to have our family name associated with this program for many years to come."

The generosity of Steve and Linda Borowski has not only inspired the baseball community but also made a huge impact on UC Irvine's Brilliant Future campaign: Athletics' fundraising goal of $20 million is now only $1.3 million away from being realized.

The Borowski Family Player Development Center will be a key component of Anteater Ballpark as it will significantly enhance training for student-athletes. The center will be adjacent to Newkirk Pavilion and will include the following:

• Strength and conditioning facility
• Sports medicine facility
• Five-lane batting cage
• Pitching lab
• Alumni/player lounge
• Office space
• Designated production and filming areas

About UC Irvine's Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on Oct. 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UC Irvine. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UC Irvine seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. UC Irvine Athletics plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/intercollegiate-athletics.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation's top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus studio with a Comrex IP audio codec to interview UC Irvine faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UC Irvine news, visit news.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources.