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."

Moorpark College men's basketball coach Remy McCarthy has found his assistant. The Raiders have hired former Cal State Northridge director of basketball operations Ryan Dodd, who previously coached at Servite and St. John Bosco high schools.

"We really feel fortunate to have him available at this particular time of year," said McCarthy. "He's been at Cal State Northridge and anyone that knows Bob Braswell knows he's incredibly demanding."

Dodd won CIF and state basketball titles as a Servite High player, before walking onto the UCLA football team in 1992 and playing basketball at Cypress College in 1995-96.

"He's the kind of guy that's going to spend all his time in the gym," said McCarthy. "He's going to be able to recruit the Valley for us, which is critical.
"We're lucky as heck to have him."

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.

On his first day as an assistant coach for the Ventura College's men's basketball, Joey Ramirez was asked to speak to the team.

Midway through an emotional sermon in the school's team room, Ramirez, who earned 1994 Western State Conference co-Most Valuable Player honors in orange and black, glanced over the door, where the painted "Eye of Tradition" had been during his playing days.

"I looked up there and it was gone," said Ramirez.

The Moorpark College men's basketball team is still searching for a replacement for former assistant Mick Cady, who left because of a scheduling conflict.

"We are in the process," said Moorpark athletic director Howard Davis. "That's all I can tell you."

Joey Ramirez, who earned Western State Conference co-Player of the Year honors for Ventura College in 1993-94, has been hired as the Pirates' assistant coach, according to head coach and athletic director Will Cowen.

"There's several reasons why it's the ideal fit for VC," said Cowen. "The first reason is history, his legacy as a player, and the second is he's become an outstanding coach since playing here."

In the process, Ramirez stepped down as Oak Park boys' basketball head coach. He earned Tri-Valley Coach of the Year honors in 2007-08, having guided the Eagles to a league title and a 22-8 record. Oak Park was 16-11 last season.

Former VC assistant Jon Wyers was hired as Villanova Prep boys' basketball coach in April.

More to come on this developing story.

Former Oxnard College men's basketball coach Ron McClurkin was hired last month as the new men's basketball coach at West Los Angeles College.

"I decided that I wanted to get back into coaching and there's a lot of potential there," said McClurkin of the school. "It's a really good situation, right in the middle of L.A. I just have to get some recruiting done."

McClurkin, who will still teach full time at Oxnard, was reassigned in 2007 after 14 years as the coach at the Condor Center.

"It's a real good opportunity," said McClurkin. "If you want to get back in, sometimes you don't get back into a good spot. But I think this is a real good spot."

The location is good for several reasons, McClurkin said. His local recruits will be able to sleep in their own beds at night. Plus, the school's location in Culver City will allow McClurkin to virtually coach the team on his ride from Oxnard College to his home in Gardena.

"I timed it the other day," said McClurkin. "It's 17 minutes from my driveway to the parking lot (at West L.A.). Not bad during morning traffic."

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.

Ventura College president Robin Calote e-mailed a statement Monday regarding the on-going VC men's basketball head coaching position:

"The selection of the men's basketball coach is an important decision that has significant implications for the viability of the men's basketball program in a community that enthusiastically supports basketball.

"Although two viable candidates have emerged through the screening process, after conferring with Chancellor Meznek, I have decided not to fill the position with an external candidate at this time. The primary reason for this is that there is movement at the state level to fund both physical education and athletics at the non-credit apportionment rate. This has serious financial implications for the college, which was already facing a multi-million dollar shortfall for the immediate future.

"Now, more than ever, it is becoming critical for the college to focus on the core classes that students need to transfer, to obtain a degree or certificate, or to acquire the skills leading to immediate employment. As the budget crisis deepens, already within the college and the district it has been necessary to pull back on several advertised full-time positions, and where possible, to either fill from within or to combine functions. Within the last two weeks, this has been done in counseling, in the student activities program, and in other areas as well.

"Depending on the state's and district's economic situation, it is my hope to reopen the men's basketball position in two years. In the interim, I have asked Will Cowen to add coaching duties to his faculty assignment. Will has a history of successful coaching experience at the high school level, and he has served the college well as the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach this last season. I have every confidence that he will be able to do a good job for both the students and the college.

Robin Calote, Ed.D.
President, Ventura College"

After nearly seven months without a rudder, school and district sources indicate the Oxnard College athletic department has hired an athletic director.

Former Palomar College assistant athletic director Jonas Crawford was WSC golf champion when he attended Cuesta.

The process, which began in November, was delayed several times. Crawford replaces Tim Harrison, who left to become the VC athletics dean on Nov. 3. Crawford should be on campus by July 1.

Ventura College men's basketball assistant coach Jon Wyers has accepted the head boys' basketball position at Villanova Prep.

In two years in Ventura, Wyers has helped Ventura to 50 wins and a pair of Western State Conference titles.

Wyers said assistant coach Dan Placial will remain with the program. He has also spoken to former Ventura guard Andre Jamerson about a potential role with the Wildcats.

Wyers will remain at Ventura, which isn't without precedent. Oxnard College men's basketball assistant Jeff Perrault also coached at Thousand Oaks High last season.

Wyers lives in Ventura with his wife Tonya and stepson Bryan, 7.

Analysis

Will Cowen's acceptance of the vacant Ventura College athletic director position has a domino affect on the potential full-time men's basketball hire this summer.

The former Pacifica High girls' basketball coach, who spent years working at Pete Newell's renowned big-man camp, Cowen had built himself into a leading candidate by helping the Pirates to a 20-7 record and a Top 20 ranking in the state coaches' poll as an assistant coach this season.

Cowen said he left his future role in the hands of Ventura president Robin Calote.

"Essentially, here's what I told the president," said Cowen. "I will do whatever she feels will service the college in the best way.

"I was real open with her and I told her that from Day 1."

Former VC coach Phil Mathews and current VC assistant Jon Wyers are two potential candidates with both connections to the school and interest in the job.

Ventura College women's basketball coach Ned Mircetic, currently the temporary men's head coach, has repeatedly said he isn't willing to leave the women's program to become the full-time men's coach.

Pacifica High athletic director Will Cowen, who has served Ventura College this season as an assistant men's basketball coach, has accepted the college's vacant athletic director position, pending board approval.

If approved, he is expected to begin in his new role on March 1.

"(Dean) Tim Harrison called me and offered me the position and I verbally accepted," said Cowen Monday.

Cowen planned to announce his move Wednesday morning on the Pacifica High in-house newscast, "Triton Talk."

"I left one of the best high school situations to take one of the best college situations," said Cowen. "I'm very honored by the opportunity.

"It's an honor to be a full-time faculty member at Ventura College."

Cowen was selected after the job was opened up to applicants beyond the Ventura faculty for the first time in memory.

"I think we've got a really good person for the job," said Ventura president Robin Calote. "He's already done it at the high school level, where he has experience managing many teams. He has a dedication to Ventura College and wants to be with us.

"I have confidence that he, Tim and our coaches will be able to work together."

"I was looking for a skill set... We needed a person that cared a lot about detail, but also cared about the success of the students."

Ventura has not had a full-time athletic director since Dick James retired in 2003.

Fomer men's basketball coach Greg Winslow and cross-country coach Nancy Fredrickson had shared the position in the interim, until their resignations on Feb. 8 and May 5, respectively.

"These opportunities don't come up very often," said Cowen. "I don't know the last time this job was opened up."

There was a humorous U-Turn in the manner in which USC head coach Pete Carroll answered questions about reports that USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian would take the Washington head coaching job after the Trojans' 28-7 win over UCLA Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl.

Carroll initially told reporters, "I don't know what the deal is, I don't know what we're supposed to say."

Carroll then debated the point with himself audibly, saying "Why am I saying that? Screw it."

Carroll then confirmed that, as far as he knows, Sarkisian is on the verge of taking over the position vacated by the firing of Tyrone Willingham earlier this season.

"As far as I know, it sounds like Washington," said Carroll. "We proudly send our guy to that job.

"It makes us extremely proud."

USC plays Washington in its second game of the 2009 season.

"We're coming after him," said Carroll. "I want you know this."

Former Oxnard College men's basketball coach Jeff Theiler had many supportive speakers at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting at Moorpark College.

None was more heartfelt than his wife, Jennifer Theiler.

"This is not just his career," she said. "It's his life."

Only three of the five board members were present to hear all the speakers before Theiler was terminated by a 4-0 vote. Arturo Hernandez arrived late and Cheryl Heitmann was absent.

"I want to coach basketball," Theiler told the three present board members. "I want to get back to helping the young people of this district."

After Monday's football practice, Gary Anglin told his Ventura College linebackers that lining up against cross-county rival Moorpark College was a fitting end to any season.

And any career.

Anglin, 57, has spent 34 of the past 39 years in the Pirates' football program as a player and coach. Saturday's 41st Citrus Cup game against Moorpark College will be his final football game in orange and black.

"It's a lot of years," said Anglin, who will rejoin the school's baseball program in the summer as an assistant to head coach Don Adams.

"I can't believe it... To me, it's the greatest."

Former Oxnard College athletic director and physical education department chair Tim Harrison began his new job as Ventura College's dean of physical education and athletics Monday.

"I'm just trying to learn all the policies and procedures they have over here," said Harrison, who takes over the position vacated by Steve Tobias.

The school will soon advertise for the athletic director position opened by the resignations of Nancy Fredrickson and Greg Winslow earlier this year.

"I think our plan is to post a full-time AD position in the next week or two," said Harrison.

Harrison's temporary replacement at Oxnard is former men's basketball coach Ron McClurkin, said Oxnard president Richard Duran Tuesday.
At least in part.

"He's handling some of that," said Duran of McClurkin. "Some of that we're trying to get other people to handle."

Oxnard has also hired Paul Garziano, a Royal High and Moorpark College alum, as its head softball coach.

Oxnard College athletic director Tim Harrison spent his last day at OC Thursday.

He will begin his new job as dean of physical education and athletics of Ventura College Monday morning, according to Patricia Parham, the Ventura County Community College District's vice chancellor for human resources.

Harrison succeeds Steve Tobias, who spent nearly four decades at VC. His hire was delayed nearly two months after this story.

Harrison is expected to be succeeded as Oxnard athletic director by former men's basketball coach Ron McClurkin, who one of only two remaining full-time faculty in Oxnard physical education and athletics.

Newbury Park resident Paul Garziano has taken over the Oxnard College softball program, according to former Oxnard athletic director Tim Harrison.

He takes over from George Peraza, who did such an excellent job in starting up the program from scratch. Oxnard was 27-23 last season and made its first appearance in the Southern California regional playoffs.

Click on the jump for the news release from Oxnard College.

Oxnard College athletic director Tim Harrison has been hired as the dean of the Ventura College athletic department, according to human resources documents on VCCCD.edu.

Harrison, hired less than a year ago at Oxnard, will fill the void left by reassigned dean Steve Tobias on Oct. 1.

"It was clear that he does his homework and he tends to his business," said Ventura president Robin Calote late Sunday. "That's what we need... someone who cares about the business and will work hard with the faculty to build on what is already a successful path."

More to come.