NOTEBOOK / SEAN WATERS

Pepperdine Fills Four Openings, but Search Continues for Men’s Golf Coach

After this week’s hiring spree, only one vacancy remains among the coaching ranks at Pepperdine.

New assistants will be David Rhoades, baseball; Carl Strong, basketball; Richard Gallien, tennis, and Tim Ward, women’s soccer.

Rhoades, a 1985 graduate of Pepperdine, will assistant Pat Harrison, who was hired to replace Andy Lopez in July. Rhoades has been the coach at Moorpark High since 1990.

Strong resigned his coaching position at Harbor College last month and will assist Tony Fuller. Strong also was an assistant at Loyola Marymount during the 1970s and 1980s.

Gallien, a two-time All-American as a tennis player at Pepperdine, returns for a second tour as a Wave assistant. He worked under Allen Fox from 1985-87 and was a co-head coach from 1988-90.

Ward will assist George Kuntz. Ward played under Kuntz at Cal Lutheran.

The Waves have yet to name a men’s golf coach.

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West Los Angeles College receiver Keyshawn Johnson, quarterback Damon Williams and running back Michael Black etched their names in the Western State Conference record book last season.

Johnson, who will play at USC this season, ranks first in reception yardage with 1,245 yards and first in yards per catch with 22.6. He ranks fifth in receptions with 55.

Williams, who will play for Alabama State, passed for 1,653 yards to rank 17th on the all-time WSC list.

Black, who will start for the Oilers, rushed for 1,335 yards to rank fifth on the all-time WCC season yardage list.

Unfortunately, West L.A. did not keep school records from 1970-80 when the Oilers were members of the conference. Excluded from the list is Minnesota Viking quarterback Warren Moon, who played at West L.A. in 1974.

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New York Knick standouts Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, John Starks and Charles Smith will be among the NBA players to compete in the Battle of the Basketball Stars Sept. 11 at Pauley Pavilion.

At least 16 NBA players are scheduled to compete in individual and team competition to determine the best athlete in the league. The competition includes an obstacle course, a 50-yard dash, four-man volleyball, three-point shooting, weightlifting, arm wrestling and other shooting competitions.

Other NBA stars scheduled to compete are Nick Van Exel (Lakers), Chris Mullin (Golden State), J.R. Reid (San Antonio), Mitch Richmond (Sacramento), Kevin Willis (Atlanta), Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix), John Salley (Miami), Byron Scott (Indiana), Kendall Gill (Seattle), Kenny Smith (Houston) and Tracy Murray (Portland).

Proceeds will be given to two children’s charities, and to nonprofit organizations that provide positive alternatives and educational assistance to underprivileged youths.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for UCLA students.

Information: (310) 825-2101.

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An adult non-contact flag football league is scheduled to begin play Sept. 24 at Hamilton High.

Players ages 18 and older are invited to play in the four-on-four league. Information: (310) 829-5226.

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The UCLA athletic department invites Southern California Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire members and their families to attend the UCLA-Southern Methodist football game Sept. 10 at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m.

Information: (310) 206-6744.