Watson Takes Over at Ventura, Parker at Moorpark : JC basketball: Former assistants receive approval of Ventura County board to coach at two of the state’s most successful programs.

Two of the leading junior college basketball programs in the state have new head coaches after appointments were approved Tuesday night by the Ventura County Community College District Board of Trustees.

Virgil Watson, a former assistant to Philip Mathews at Ventura College, is the new Pirate coach, and Del Parker, a longtime assistant to Al Nordquist at Moorpark, is taking over the Raiders.

Nordquist, the only head coach in Moorpark history, relinquished his post to accept an assignment as dean of social sciences and physical education at the school.

He has held the dean’s position on an interim basis since January.

Watson was an assistant to Mathews for four seasons. He was the head coach at Valley College from 1985-1987 and was an assistant at UC Santa Barbara last season.

He takes over the most successful junior college team in the state in recent years. The Pirates were 298-56 in 10 seasons under Mathews and won state championships in 1987 and last season. Mathews resigned in July to become head coach at the University of San Francisco.

“I’m very excited about it and looking forward to the challenge of replacing a very good coach and a very good man,” Watson said. “I feel very good about coming back to this community. But with [the job] comes a lot of pressure, too.”

Parker was an assistant to Nordquist since the school opened in 1967. He previously coached the Army freshman team.

Parker will be assisted by Remy McCarthy, a former Moorpark player and former Oxnard College coach. McCarthy, who was the interim coach of the Moorpark women’s team last season, has been hired on an emergency basis to assist Parker. That position will be open to all applicants after the season.

In 28 seasons at Moorpark, Nordquist was 482-377 and won two Western State Conference titles. He guided the Raiders to two Final Eight appearances in the State tournament.

“I’ve had the most interesting coaching life anyone could have ever had,” Nordquist said.

“I feel confident that Coach Parker will do an outstanding job and that the Moorpark College men’s basketball program is in excellent hands.”