Sports Briefs

Football Coach Hired--Artesia High School has elevated defensive coordinator Vince La Rosa, 34, to the position of head football coach. A native of Brooklyn, La Rosa has spent 11 of the past 12 seasons as a coach in the Southeast area. He has been at Artesia for six years. Previously, he was a head coach at a high school in New Hampshire for a single season and an assistant at Cerritos High School for five years. La Rosa says he plans to upgrade the off-season program at the school and build a coaching staff that is expected to include most of the school’s former staff. In addition, he said he wants to add two coaches in “walk-on” capacities if he cannot fill his order from within the ABC Unified School District.

Football Jobs Filled--St. Paul and Poly high schools have filled their vacant head football coaching positions. Ohio native Richard A. Ready, 34, was hired at St. Paul to replace James Walker. Walker resigned Feb. 6. Ready came out tops among five finalists for the job. He has been at Miami University of Ohio since 1983 in charge of the offensive line, defensive scouting, on-campus recruiting and weight training. Poly High Principal Robert Ellis elevated defensive coordinator Jerry Jaso and offensive line coach Thomas Whiting to a co-head coaching position. Jaso, like Whiting, is 34. He has been at the school since 1981. Jaso is a 1968 graduate of Poly and has been at the school since 1980. The pair replace Jim Barnett, who left to become the head football coach at Trabuco Hills High School in Mission Viejo. Poly was 46-11-4 under Barnett and won five Moore League titles.

Champions--Hoover Junior High School topped Rogers Junior High, 67-48, to win the seventh-eighth grade title, and Hughes Junior High captured the ninth grade crown with a 47-45 win over Franklin in the annual Long Beach All-City Boys Basketball Championships at Lakewood High recently. The finals are part of the Long Beach Unified School District’s continuing Saturday sports program for junior high school students.

Tennis Expo--Representatives from major tennis equipment manufacturers and local tennis clubs will be on hand Saturday, April 27, for a tennis exposition at El Dorado Park in Long Beach. The event, which includes demonstrations by local pros, will be held at the El Dorado Tennis Center in the park at 2800 Studebaker Road. The purpose of the event is to promote tennis in Long Beach and make area residents more aware of what is available to them. For more information call 425-0553.

Youth League Sign-Ups--The City of Long Beach is sponsoring youth league sign-ups for free basketball and soccer competition. Children ages 14-17 are eligible to participate in a free westside basketball league. Sign-ups are continuing at the Silverado Park gym at 1600 W. 32nd St. through April 27. East Long Beach youths, ages 5-16, can participate in a free indoor soccer program. Games are played at a variety of locations in the area. Registration will continue through April 20 at the El Dorado Park Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road.