Over the past 25 years, Jon Roberts has coached volleyball from Newbury Park High to a professional club in Zagreb, Croatia.

He'll soon be able to California community college to that resume.

Roberts has been hired as the head coach of the Ventura College women's volleyball team, the school announced Thursday.

"I'm really excited about this opportunity," Roberts said. "There's a lot of great things happening at Ventura College... I'm already trying to get some players."

Roberts, a native of Portuguese Bend, which is adjacent Palos Verdes, replaces Mandy Rodriguez, whose resigned in May after seven seasons. The Pirates were 4-18 last fall, its lowest win total since 1989.

"From this day forward," Roberts said, "I'm going to do everything I can to get this (team) going in the right direction."

Robert played at UC Santa Barbara, served as an assistant coach at Rutgers, Texas A&M, UC Santa Barbara and, most recently, at Cal State Northridge, where he helped guide the men's team to the Final Four in 2010, and was the head coach at Menlo College from 1990-93. He's also coached locally at Westlake, Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park high, where he guided the Panther girls to back-to-back Marmonte League titles in 2004 and 2005.

"There was something about Newbury Park that clicked," Roberts said. "We had a good group of girls, an excellentgroup of parents and it worked out great. I had some girls that made me look really smart."

Lately, he's been working with the U.S. men's national team as an assistant coach and consultant, traveling with the team to the 2010 Pan-Am Cup in Ottawa, Canada.
Roberts says he coaches fundamentals that lead to "high energy plus ball control" volleyball."

"I'm an old-school guy," said Roberts. "We're going to work on mastering the skills... When you do that, usually winning takes care of itself."

Roberts mentioned Mikki McFadden, who coached VC to four WSC North titles from 1999 to 2004.

"Back in the day, she had it going on," Roberts said, "And there's no reason we can't do that. You've got the beach, you've got the weather and you've got a following... a lot of people in the community want to see volleyball succeed."

Moorpark College has named longtime assistant coach Eleazar Hernandez head coach of its men's track and field team.

Hernandez has been an assistant coach for the Raiders' track and cross-country programs for 10 years, which included nine consecutive Western State Conference titles and the 2003 men's track and field state championship team.

"He has been an excellent coach and role model for our student athletes for several years," said athletic director Howard Davis.

The Camarillo High and Moorpark College product was also an illustrious runner. Hernandez was the California state men's cross country champion in 1996, when he lead the Raiders to the team title, and the 1997 state champion in the men's 10,000 meters. He remains in the school all-time Top 10 in three track events, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters.

Hernandez was the NCAA West regional runner-up in 1998 at the University of Hawaii, Hilo.

"Eleazar's story illustrates what makes community college athletics such a valuable asset to our county," said Davis. "Upon graduation from Camarillo HS, he had no scholarship opportunities. He came to Moorpark College, worked hard in the classroom and on the track. That hard work led to a full scholarship, and eventually a college degree."

A few new, albeit familiar faces were on the fields Thursday when fall practice kicked off for the county's two community college football programs.

Entering his second year at the helm, Ventura College head coach Steve Mooshagian has added former Ventura head coach Terry Morris to his staff

The Pirates were 50-42 from 1997 to 2005 under Morris, the second-winningest coach in school history.

Morris goes directly to his area of on-field expertise, the secondary, to coach cornerbacks. Also the chair of the physical education department, Morris will also become the program's academic and placement coordinator

"He'll take that load off of me," said Mooshagian. "Although I'm going to still be involved, there are sometimes when I'm tied up. Now there's someone else to go to."

Morris' return gives the program three full-time coaches on campus with Mooshagian, Morris and assistant coach Gary Anglin.

"That's a plus," said Mooshagian.

Moorpark College has also welcomed back a long-time former football coach in Will Thurston, who served head coach Jim Bittner for 22 seasons from 1979 to 1999.

Former Raiders receiver and coach Curtis Marsh has also returned to the staff. His 250-yard performance against Ventura in 1991 still stands as the school record for receiving yards in a game.

"We have a good coaching staff," said Bittner. "They're working well. There's a lot of enthusiasm. We're excited about the season."

Other additions to the Ventura staff were especially familiar to Mooshagian, who has added his son, Bobby Mooshagian, and his potential future-son-in-law, Tyson Butler.

The younger Mooshagian will coach receivers and work as the program's video coordinator.

"That's such an art now with the computers," said the elder Mooshagian.

Butler will coach running backs. Both played at Sacramento State and coached with Mooshagian at Feather River in 2009.

Former NFL safety Michael Stewart, who played with the Rams and Dolphins from 1987-1993 has also joined the staff. Stewart, who played at Fresno State when Mooshagian was an assistant there, is actually a Bakersfield College product.

Stewart lives in Thousand Oaks and his sons Andru and Deveraux have played for Oaks Christian in recent years.

Some returning coaches have had their duties altered.

Jason Bendinelli, formerly the offensive line and tight ends coach, has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

"He's done a great job," said Mooshagian, who retains playcalling duties. "He understands all aspects of the offense. He's very efficient."

Tom Lawrence, who remains the special teams coordinator, takes over tight ends.

Mooshagian said the additions were made necessary by a bigger roster. Ventura began camp with 130 players.

Ventura College has just announced that assistant coach Joey Ramirez has been hired as the school's new men's basketball head coach.

Ramirez, the 1994 WSC North co-Most Valuable Player at Ventura, has been Will Cowen's assistant coach over the past two seasons.

"Joey's loyalty to Ventura College started as a player in our program," said Cowen, the school's athletic director. "He paid his dues as a very successful high school coach. He's been an outstanding teacher. Obviously, he was excellent as an assistant coach over the past two years.

"He's earned the position in every regard."

At Oak Park High, Ramirez was the Tri-Valley League Coach of the Year honors in 2007-08, having guided the Eagles to a league title and a 22-8 record.

Ramirez played at Santa Paula High.

Oxnard College has hired former UC Santa Barbara All-American and AVP professional Brooke (Niles) Hanson as assistant coach of its women's volleyball team.

The Calabasas High graduate and Ventura resident, who also served UCSB as an assistant coach from 2003 to 2007, played every position but middle blocker during her four-year career on Isla Vista. Her bio on the UCSB website calls her "one of the most versatile players in Gaucho history."

"I've been looking for the right opportunity to get back into it," said Hanson. "I have an opportunity be part of something and build a program. It seemed like a good fit."

On the AVP pro tour, Hanson was named "Best Defender" for the 2009 season. She has partnered, among others, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh and Olympian Logan Tom.

"Brooke will bring a wealth of professional experience and will act as a great mentor for all of our student-athletes," said Oxnard athletic director Jonas Crawford in a release.

After an 0-6 start, the Condors, led by head coach David Fischer, won back-to-back matches against West Los Angeles and Antelope Valley last week.

"Obviously, it's not known as a volleyball powerhouse, but I don't see how it can't be," said Hanson of Oxnard. "We are in a good area.

"We actually have a good group of girls right now. They just haven't had a lot of experience."

Ventura College men's cross country coach Tony Veney's schedule became twice as busy this week when the former Portland State head coach and UCLA and Oregon assistant was named head coach of Ventura College's track and field program.

"It's what I'm always accustomed to," said Veney Thursday. "Ever since I've started coaching, I've always been involved with a year-round process... I'm glad the situation with Ventura worked out. It makes me feel comfortable."

Veney can now begin the process of building the Pirates into a competitor. Rival Moorpark has won the past 10 WSC men's titles.

"The county has a lot of talent," said Ventura. "When I was a coach at Cal State Northridge back in the 1990s, we were constantly recruiting from this area. There's a lot of great athletes here.

"I want all of the high schools here in the county to view Ventura College as a home school. If you're not going to go a four-year school, but you want to hone your skills to eventually reach a four-year school, we want the people here to think that Ventura is going to be the best spot to ply their trade."

Ventura College has hired Tony Veney as the head coach of its men's track and field team, the school announced Wednesday.

Already serving as the head coach of the men's cross country team, Veney is a former head coach at Portland State (2001-03) and assistant coach at UCLA (2003-09) and Oregon (1998-2001).

At UCLA, he coached 15 NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor All-Americans and six Pac-10 champions.

"We were ecstatic to add a teacher of Tony's caliber to our staff," said Ventura athletic director Will Cowen.

Veney is a USA Track and Field level I-II-III instructor and holds a Master of Coaching Certificate. He has also coached in the Paralympic Games, the Goodwill Games, the junior and senior Pan American Games

The summer is a slow time for the local community colleges, except for the human resources department.

Oxnard College was already in the process of hiring assistant coaches for its men's soccer and women's volleyball programs. Now it will have to replace athletic trainer Jill Muhe, who is leaving to become the head women's volleyball coach at Briar Cliffs University in Sioux City, Iowa.

Moorpark College is in the process of replacing assistant women's basketball coach Lori Chandler, who has retired from coaching, and hiring an assistant football coach.

"Football is closed and the women's basketball job closes any day now," said Moorpark athletic director Howard Davis.

Western State Conference women's basketball will lose one of its deans Wednesday when Cuesta College women's basketball head coach Ed Musolff, the last active program founder in Southern California, retires.

Cuesta release:

"Cuesta College women's basketball founding head coach Ed Musolff has announced his retirement effective June 30. He spent 30 seasons at the helm from 1980-2010, amassing 427 wins and 13 playoff appearances including the 1982 Division II championship with a 19-1 record. His tenure is second to the 33 seasons of CCCWBCA Hall of Famer Caren Franci.

Coach Musolff moves into retirement life with his wife Caroline in Cayucos. They have three children - David, Dan and Carrie. Carrie was the 1996 Cuesta College Athlete of the Year and Dan played basketball for Cuesta in 1995-96. They also have two granddaughters, Isabella and Laela, and two grandsons, Waylon and Isaac."

Here is today's story on Ventura College hiring Steve Mooshagian, the former Sacramento State head coach and Cincinnati Bengals, University of Pittsburgh, Nevada and Fresno State, as the 18th football coach in school history.

Ventura College has hired Feather River College head coach Steve Mooshagian as its head football coach.

Mooshagian, 51, fills the void left by Jon Mack's January departure to Crespi Carmelite High.

"We're ecstatic to add a teacher and coach the caliber of coach Mooshigan to our staff," said Ventura athletic director Will Cowen. "It's well worth the wait."

Mooshagian brings to Ventura experience at virtually every level of the game.

"He has a vast array of coaching experience," said Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen. "I think it's important to have a leader who really understands what it takes to be successful at every level."

Mooshagian spent four years in the NFL as the Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers from 1999 to 2002, working with Chad (Johnson) Ochocinco, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Darnay Scott, Carl Pickens, and Peter Warrick.

He was an NCAA Division I-A offensive coordinator at Pittsburgh (1997-98) and Nevada (1996).

He was the head coach at Division I-AA Sacramento State for four years (2003-06) and the assistant head coach at the University of San Diego (2007-08), when the Toreros led NCAA Division I FCS in scoring (44.3 points per game).

"Good find, huh?" said longtime Ventura assistant coach Gary Anglin. "He's a very good fit for Ventura College."

Mooshagian's resume also includes one other stint as a California community college head coach (Fresno City, 1995) and two years at Washington Union High in Fresno (1983-84),

In between, he spent 10 years on the staff at Fresno State, where he coached 10 NFL receivers during a stretch when the Bulldogs won six conference titles and played in six bowl games.

"You never stop learning," said Mooshagian. "I've picked things up along the way, I think I've been very blessed to have learned from a lot of people."

Feather River was 5-5 last fall in Mooshagian's first season last fall, falling 27-26 to Mendocino in the final game with the Mid-Empire Conference title on the line and finishing the season ranked No. 15 in Northern California. All 22 sophomores transferred to four-year schools.

The son of Ray Mooshagian, who spent 31 years as a high school coach in the Los Angeles area, Mooshagian played wide receiver at Downey High, Cerritos College (1978-79) and Fresno State (1980-81) and signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL (1983).

Former Ventura College men's basketball coach Phil Mathews will be unveiled Monday as Ben Howland's top assistant with the UCLA men's basketball team

We've been hearing over the past few days that former Ventura College coach Phil Mathews could be set to return to Southern California as Ben Howland's No. 1 assistant at UCLA.

Tracy Pierson at BruinReportOnline.com reported the hiring as imminent Thursday.

This would be fantastic news for Mathews, who coached the Pirates to the 1987 and 1995 state championships and 10 straight WSC titles before moving on to the University of San Francisco, San Bernardino Valley and the University of Nebraska.

Mathews was set to return home to VC last summer when the state budget situation kept the college from hiring a new full-time coach.

He watched the California Community College basketball championships last month in Thousand Oaks with former guard Joey Ramirez, who is now a Ventura assistant.

Ventura should have a head coach to guide its team through perhaps the toughest schedule in school history soon.

The school is nearing a replacement for Jon Mack, who left for Crespi Carmelite High Jan. 23.

Applicants were seen on campus this week for initial interviews. A hire is expected soon.

"I have nothing to report yet," said Ventura president Robin Calote Wednesday. "I'm hopeful that we will have someone within the next two weeks."

Antelope Valley College men's basketball head coach Dieter Horton, who guided the Marauders team to the state final in 2007, has resigned his position, according to the Antelope Valley press.

Horton also led Fullerton College to a perfect 37-0 state championship season in 2005-06.

Ventura College football coach Jon Mack, who took the job at Crespi Carmelite High Saturday afternoon, did not show up to teach his classes in Ventura Monday, choosing instead to live up to the promise to begin his new job bright and early in Encino.

Instead, it was left to Ventura College athletic director Will Cowen to hold the first team meeting of the post-Mack era, where he broke the news to the Pirates players.

"They were pretty emotional," said Cowen. "I encouraged them not to make any quick decisions. Ventura College is a great place with a lot to offer. The program is going to move on with new leadership."

It went on Monday without Mack as Ventura defensive lineman Tommy Stuart, one of the Pirates' top players, had a recruiting visit with New Mexico State at the home of Westlake High coach Jim Benkert.

Stuart, who played at Westlake for Benkert, has received offers from New Mexico State and Nevada.

Although he has reportedly signed a contract with Crespi, Mack officially remains the Pirates' football coach until filling out the proper paperwork.

Tim Harrison, Ventura's Dean of Athletics, said Mack was expected to officially resign Tuesday morning. He will also hold outgoing meetings with administration and players.

"I think the intent is for him to fill out some paperwork and finish out the week teaching here," said Harrison.

There should also be some solid information regarding the imminent head coaching search Tuesday.

"Once we get the resignation, then we'll make some decisions," said Harrison. "We have not make firm decisions on the process."

Cowen and Ventura College president Robin Calote both said they spent much of Monday fielding questions from potential applicants "from around the state" via phone and e-mail.

Former Ventura College football coach Jon Mack on his move to Crespi Carmelite High, most of the comments were directed to his new players:

"Overjoyed is the word that comes to my mind.

"I'm excited about the opportunity today. Together we can achieve anything and everything."

"We will be working as hard as I can humanly work. We will start as soon as possible."

"I'll be here early Monday morning, I challenge any of you to beat me here.

"We will work all summer. You will get a small vacation at the beginning and a small vacation at the end.

"Remember tomorrow, a new day dawns. It's time to get to work."

(Mack was asked about his history. He mentioned that he went to high school at rival Sherman Oaks-Notre Dame, which prompted faux clearing of throats around the room)

"I played down the street down here at a small catholic school in Sherman Oaks."

(Mack was asked how many championships he won at St. Bonaventure High)

"I don't remember any of that. I'm only worried about tomorrow."

(Mack was asked if making the playoffs in his first year would be a goal, considering Crespi has missed the playoffs the past two seasons)

"That disgusts me. Don't you guys want to win the whole thing?"

(Mack was asked about putting together a staff)

"There's a lot that has to be done. Obviously, the staff is absolutely critical."

"Give me a week or so to transition

"I have a good friend who's a great offensive mind. I prefer to hire coordinators.

"We're going to try to find a offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator and, most importantly, a special teams coordinator."

(He told the assembled parents that he had all day to answer questions, one on one)

"We have nothing else to do but try to win football games"

Ventura College football coach Jon Mack confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he has agreed to interview for the lucrative head coaching position at Crespi Carmelite, but denied reports that he was on campus today to negotiate his new contract.

"What a bunch of garbage," said Mack in response to the 12:16 p.m. Daily News report. "At 1:30 (p.m.) today, I agreed to interview.

"A buddy of mine called and said 'It's on the Internet.' I said, 'What are you talking about?' That's all I've done is agreed to interview. Crazy."

The Daily News reported earlier today that Mack is not only Crespi's top candidate, he was on campus today to negotiate his contract. It also mentioned interviews were completed Tuesday and that former Cal Lutheran University football coach Scott Squires is among the candidates for the job.

Asked about the rumors a few weeks ago, Mack said he had not heard from anyone at Crespi about the opening. Wearing his Ventura College jacket, Mack did recruit like gangbusters throughout the CIF playoffs for the Pirates and he did speak about the future of the program and California Community College football in general this week.

Mack was asked if he did leave, would he be taking members of his staff with him to Crespi?

"It's so far from that," said Mack. "I haven't even interviewed."

UPDATE at 5:15 p.m.: I just ducked my head into the VC football office and Jon Mack is present, holding his weekly staff meeting. "Told you so," he said.

It's official. USC has hired a dream team to replace Pete Carroll, who left Monday to become the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

USC announced Tuesday afternoon that former offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who spent last season as the Tennessee head coach, has been named the Trojans' head football coach.

Arrive in tow are Kiffin's father, Monte, and former USC recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who were part of Kiffin's staff in Tennessee.

"We are really excited to welcome Lane Kiffin back to USC," said USC athletic director Mike Garrett. "I was able to watch him closely when he was an assistant with us and what I saw was a bright, creative young coach who I thought would make an excellent head coach here if the opportunity ever arose. I'm confident he and his staff will keep USC football performing at the high level that we expect.

"Lane brings a lot to the table. He has a coaching background both in the pros and in the best collegiate conferences. He has a great command of the X's and O's. He is familiar with the Trojan landscape and will be a great representative of our university. He keeps the game fun. And, very importantly, he has proven to be one of the finest recruiters anywhere.

"Lane has surrounded himself with others of similar talent. I can't tell you how delighted we are to have Ed Orgeron back on staff and to have Monte Kiffin join us. They are some of the pre-eminent coaches in the game. Ed did a marvelous job during his previous time at USC and we all know that Monte is a defensive guru. I know Lane will fill out his staff with other outstanding assistants like them, ones who Trojan players and fans will really like."