Alemany Brings Aboard 4 Assistants to Serve Football Coach Blackburn

Alemany High football Coach Pat Blackburn has a new set of assistants.

James Sims, previously an assistant at Damien High in La Verne, has been named defensive coordinator and Tony Palamara, a former Notre Dame High standout and offensive lineman for the defunct Los Angeles Cobras of the Arena Football League, has been named offensive line coach.

Hugo Correa, a defensive lineman for Alemany in 1986, returns to coach the defensive line after playing at Cal State Long Beach. Bob Mertel, who played quarterback for Alemany from 1980-81, will coach the quarterbacks.

The Indians, second in the Del Rey League last year with a 6-5 record, join the newly formed Mission League with Chaminade and perennial rivals Crespi and Notre Dame.

A soccer clinic sponsored by the Amateur Athletic Foundation and the California Interscholastic Federation will be held for high school coaches and their assistants from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Birmingham High.

Information: (818) 366-6364.

Phil Mathews, Ventura College basketball coach, has been named one of the nation’s most inspirational black men by the Carnation Co. Mathews was one of 34 men profiled in the firm’s book, “Men of Courage.” Mathews has coached at Ventura since 1985 and led his team to the state championship in 1987. His record at Ventura is 123-39.