Irvin Quits as CSUN Walk-On Football Assistant

Citing financial and travel burdens, Cal State Northridge defensive backs coach LeRoy Irvin has resigned and accepted a job as a salesman and spokesperson for golf club manufacturers.

A five-time all-pro cornerback for the Rams, Irvin began coaching on a voluntary basis last spring. He commuted to Northridge from his home in Orange County.

“I want to coach, I just couldn’t make any money,” Irvin said Tuesday. “It is too far for me to come, but I had a great time. I appreciate what Coach (Bob) Burt and Coach (Mark) Banker did for me. I respect Coach Banker so much.”

Defensive back James Woods, a freshman who was a redshirt last season, said he will miss Irvin.

“He was like a friend,” Woods said. “He looked out for me as a college freshman coming in. He taught me how to cover, how to read receivers better. He was a great coach. If we didn’t understand, he showed us how to do it. He taught us by showing us and he told us things that happened in his career that helped us.”

Because of budget cuts, Northridge has no paid coaching positions available. Burt and assistants Banker and Rich Lopez earn full-time salaries. Quarterbacks/receivers Coach Dale Bunn is paid part-time wages for full-time work, and assistants Pat Blackburn, Dennis McConnaughy and Scott Norton receive nominal stipends for full-time work.

Before Irvin’s arrival, Banker served as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

The Cal State Northridge women’s swim team must be perfect to win the Pacific Coast Swimming Championships today through Saturday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, according to Coach Pete Accardy.

The Matadors, who finished second in the 10-team field last season, expect to be challenged by Northern Arizona.

Led by freshman Heather Ballard, the Matadors figure to contend for individual titles in several events. Ballard is a favorite in the 400-yard individual medley and a co-favorite, along with Northern Arizona’s April Diez, in the 500 and 1,650 freestyles.

Ballard also will swim either the 200 individual medley or the 200 butterfly. Northridge is strong in the 100 and 200 freestyle events with Nicole Hudson and Denise Lamoureaux.

Marti Carlson, another swimmer who has made great improvement, has a solid shot at winning the 200 backstroke.

The men’s team, which won nine conference events and broke seven PCSC records en route to a third-place finish last season, is expected to finish third again, according to Accardy.

With Mike Prahm, Steve Hoffman and Ian Wisler-Poulsen, Northridge is expected to contend in the freestyle events. Erik Matheson is a strong entry in the 100 butterfly and Northridge’s freestyle relay teams also are title contenders.

Preliminaries begin each day at 10 a.m. Finals start at 6 p.m.

Two of the Marmonte League’s top girls’ volleyball players, Tracy Heflin of Agoura and Jennifer Dunn of Westlake, have signed letters of intent with Division I schools.

Heflin, a 5-foot-10 setter-outside hitter and an All-Southern Section Division I selection, has signed with Arizona State.

Dunn, a 6-1 middle blocker who earned All-Marmonte League honors, has signed with UC Irvine.

Moorpark boys’ soccer Coach Michael Scanlon will retire as the Musketeers’ coach after this, his sixth season.

“It’s hard being a walk-on coach,” he said. “It takes a lot of time, between 20 and 30 hours a week, and I already work 60 hours a week besides that as a neurosurgical assistant.”

Scanlon, 46, has led Frontier League champion Moorpark (17-2-2) to the No. 2 ranking in Division V. The Musketeers will open the playoffs Friday seeded second. Scanlon is seeking his first Southern Section title.

“It would definitely be a nice way (to go out),” he said.

Los Angeles City Section high school senior soccer players will participate in an all-star soccer match scheduled for Feb. 27 at Cal State Los Angeles. The girls’ match is scheduled for noon; the boys’ match is at 2 p.m.

Information: 818-843-8281 or 818-843-8384.

Palmdale High has scheduled an alumni baseball game at 11 a.m. on Feb. 28. The game, which will match even-year graduates against odd-year graduates, is a fund-raiser for the school’s baseball team.

Information: 805-273-3181 or 805-266-3245.

Registration and tryouts for the Northridge Baseball Assn. Babe Ruth League will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the field on Devonshire Street between Wilbur Avenue and Reseda Boulevard. Leagues are for players ages 13-15 and 16-18.

Information: 818-368-8319 or 818-360-3023.