ADMINISTRATION

Ed Nelson, Poway High School’s assistant principal in charge of discipline, has been named its new athletic director.

Nelson, 39, replaces John Self, who gave up the position to coach the football team. The school did not want an athletic director who is also a varsity head coach, and there were three who were willing to give up their programs to take up the administrative post: Rudy Casciato (baseball), Traci Barker-Ball (softball) and Larry Higgins (boys’ volleyball), who is an off-campus coach.

Budget cuts within the school district made the position unattractive to the teachers vying for the job because they would have had to maintain a heavier classload than previously allowed for the position.

SIGNINGS

Vista High School’s Aaron Rounsifer, an 11th-round selection by the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft, signed with the American League club for a $75,000 bonus.

Rounsifer, who earlier this year signed a national letter of intent to play at Cal State Fullerton, where he was expected to succeed NCAA player of the year Phil Nevin as the third baseman, made his decision Wednesday after meeting with Boston scout Ray Boone.

Rounsifer batted .488 with six home runs and 33 RBIs. Most of his production took place late in the season when he dropped from 220 pounds to 195. He had put the extra weight on his 6-foot-2 frame while recuperating from an ankle injury.

“They gave me what I was looking for,” Rounsifer said. “I was looking for $75,000 and they will pay for school on top of that. Plus there are some incentives.

“I really didn’t (think I would sign). I read about 11th-round picks getting $11,000. I wasn’t going to sign for that amount. I just didn’t think it would be worth it for me to miss school for that amount.”

Boone said he thought the Red Sox got an 11th-round steal.

“He’s a good athlete with good size, a good arm, (and) he has a chance to be an infielder with power,” Boone said. “He has good athletic makeup. I think he’s going to be a major leaguer, without question.”

Rounsifer, who turns 18 on June 21, leaves Saturday for Winter Haven, Fla.