UCLA took its time replacing Rick Vanderhook on its coaching staff after he left to take the head job at Cal State Fullerton, but the Bruins have finally found their man, and it was worth the wait. Baseball America has learned that UCLA has hired UC Davis head coach Rex Peters as an assistant, though an official announcement is not expected until the middle of August.

Peters, like Vanderhook, played for Cal State Fullerton, where he helped lead the Titans to the College World Series in 1988. After his professional playing career ended, Peters joined the coaching staff at Division III Chapman (Calif.), where he went on to spend nine years as the head coach, leading the Panthers to the D-III College World Series three times. In 2003, he led UC Davis to the Division II postseason for the first time since 1995. And in 2008, Peters guided the Aggies to the Division I NCAA tournament in their first season of eligibility after transitioning from D-II.

Associate head coach Matt Vaughn, a Davis alumnus who has spent 19 years on the coaching staff there, seems like the favorite to succeed Peters as the Aggies' head coach.