Oxnard High graduate and former Oxnard College baseball coach and athletic director Jerry White on his hire as Western State Conference commissioner.

"We are at a tough point in the history of the conference for a number of reasons. These are tough times, but I think there are things that can be done to make things better."

(on succeeding Aviva Kamin, who was hired in 1982)

"I've sat at that table for a number of years with Ed Wagner and Aviva Kamin. I've seen a lot of changes that we were made because of their leadership. (Kamin) has done a lot of really good things that have influenced our conference."

(on the future of community college athletics)

"The economic problems that we all have right now just seem to permeate every decision and every consideration that we have. It's all about economics, where we are right now and how we try to solve these problems.

"That's paramount. That starts every conversation."

Former Oxnard College baseball coach and athletic director Jerry White will be named Western State Conference commissioner at the Oct. 7 conference meeting.

White, a 1955 graduate of Oxnard High, will succeed longtime WSC commish Aviva Kamin, who stepped down earlier this year after 27 years of service.

White was the choice of the selection committee which included Jody Wise of Citrus College, John Cicuto of Glendale College, Kim Ensing of Allan Hancock College, Steve Aggers of West Los Angeles College and Jonas Crawford of Oxnard College.

More on this later today.

Aviva Kamin, who served the Western State Conference as commissioner for more than 20 years, has asked the conference to be replaced.

Kamin informed WSC President Jody Wise and former WSC President Ellen O'Connor of her decision earlier this month.

"It has been some 25 years that I have been doing this and I think it is time for me to retire and do other things," wrote Kamin in an e-mail to conference administrators. "I will miss working with all of you and of course seeing you at the meetings and socializing the few minutes that we have before and after our meetings."

Kamin will continue to do the job until her replacement is found.

Western State Conference commissioner Aviva Kamin has ruled that Oxnard College must forfeit its 2007-08 men's basketball season and be placed on probation for the 2008-09 campaign, based on the ineligibility of starting guard Jonathan Malloy.

More to come online and in tomorrow's Star.