La Habra Hires Football Coach

Rick Milhizer has been hired as the La Habra High football coach, the Fullerton Joint Union High School District announced Thursday.

Milhizer, an assistant at Century since 1990, replaces Jack Nicholls, who resigned in March after five seasons as coach.

Milhizer played at Michigan State and was a head coach at his alma mater Farmington (Mich.) High. He also will teach social science at La Habra.

Steve Carbone of Los Alamitos has made an oral commitment to play basketball at Southern Methodist, Griffin Coach Steve Brooks said.

Carbone, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 18 points last season and was named second-team All-Orange County. He was a three-time All-Empire League selection.

Because SMU has given out all 13 of its grants-in-aid, Carbone will won’t be on scholarship next season. But he has been guaranteed a scholarship for the next year, when five become available, Brooks said.

Brett Poulos of Trabuco Hills has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Point Loma Nazarene College, Trabuco Hills Coach Rainer Wulf said.

Poulos, a 5-11 guard, averaged 17 points and seven assists last season. He also led Orange County in free throw percentage at 91.1%.

He was a named second-team all-county.

Poulos, who was named the team’s MVP three consecutive years, will receive a half-athletic, half-academic scholarship. He has a 4.1 grade-point average.

Joe Ireifej, a 6-foot-1, 255-pound offensive lineman from Marina, will attend Golden West and play football next season, he said Thursday.

The play of Ireifej, a Times’ all-county first-team selection, was instrumental in running back John Marvos’ 1,000-yard season.