BRIEFLY : Eagles Name Jeff Fisher to Coach Defensive Backs

Jeff Fisher, whose career as a football player took him from Taft High to USC and then to the world champion Chicago Bears, was named defensive backs coach by the Philadelphia Eagles, it was announced Monday.

A five-year National Football League veteran, Fisher, 27, injured his ankle in a preseason practice before the Bears carved their path through the National Football League and eventually through the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.

Fisher sat out the season on the injured reserve list. Before the injury, Fisher had been one of the league’s premier punt returners.

The 1976 graduate of Taft will work under new Eagles Coach Buddy Ryan. As defensive coordinator for the Bears, Ryan used Fisher as an assistant.

M. J. Nelson Decides to Attend Colorado

Simi Valley running back M.J. Nelson, The Times’ Valley Back of the Year, has verbally committed to attend Colorado this fall.

Nelson, the Marmonte League’s Most Valuable Player, rushed for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. He scored two touchdowns on interception returns and two on kickoff returns. Nelson was recruited as a wide receiver and defensive back.

Earlier this week, Montclair Prep running back Riche Swinton and Westlake quarterback Brad Gossen gave verbal commitments to attend Washington State. Swinton visited Arizona and canceled a trip to Oregon. Gossen visited Utah and canceled a trip to USC.

$1,500 Dart Tournament Planned in Northridge

Dart tournaments for beginning and advanced players, offering more than $1,500 in cash and prizes, will be held in conjunction with a free clinic at the Northridge Fashion Center on Saturday.

The Bass Ale/Los Angeles Dart Classic is part of a series that features dart clinics and beginner’s competition for shoppers at American shopping malls. Open tournaments for experienced players accompany the shopping center promotions.

The series will culminate with the Bass Ale/United States Dart Championships in April, where more than $10,000 in cash and prizes will be distributed.

The open tournament begins at noon with a blind draw. The dart clinic will start at 1:30 p.m., followed by a beginner’s tournament for prizes. Open singles competition begins at 2 p.m., followed by ladies singles at 2:15, open doubles at 4 and ladies doubles at 4:15.

Registration closes 10 minutes before each event. Entry fees are $7 for blind draw and $10 per person for each event.

Information: (213) 277-2717, or (818) 885-9700.