Health Concerns Force Out White

Jerry White, coach of the Oxnard College baseball team for 10 seasons, has resigned his position for health reasons.

White, 51, said he experienced shortness of breath and bouts with dizziness during the past season and doctors had detected abnormalities in spots on his skin, a result of exposure to the sun.

“There were times when the physician talked about the sun and, more recently, the stressful situations I’ve created for myself,” said White, who took a sabbatical leave from teaching and coaching in 1986. “In their estimation, and they have a nice term that runs off the end of the page, but it’s, I suppose, a preliminary case of skin cancer.

“I was advised that maybe I should smell the roses a bit.”

White, who will continue as a full-time physical education teacher at Oxnard and Pac-10 basketball referee, made a strong recommendation that he be replaced by George Peraza, an assistant under White at Oxnard and Moorpark colleges for 12 seasons.

“I’m in hopes that George Peraza be in line for the job and that he take it,” White said. “He deserves it.”

Rich Herrera, Oxnard’s other assistant and coach of the Camarillo American Legion team, said he is undecided if he will return.

“More than likely, if George leaves, I’ll leave,” he said.

Peraza was unavailable for comment.

Since White took over the Oxnard program in 1978, the Condors have won five Western State Conference division titles and advanced to the WSC playoffs eight times.

He had a record of 235-100. White also coached at Moorpark College and Hueneme High.

White did not rule out the possibility of returning to coaching at a later date.

“I might have coached for another 10 or 15 years and I still might,” he said. “If I feel an adjustment in my life needs to be made, I will do that.”