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."