UCLA Gets Commitment From Tackle at Valley

Dan Cotti, an All-Western State Conference tackle at Valley College, said Wednesday he has committed to play at UCLA.

Cotti, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound sophomore from Burbank High, said he made the decision Sunday even after learning from Terry Donahue that he might step down as UCLA coach.

Donahue resigned Monday to become a college football analyst for CBS-TV.

“[Donahue] brought up the fact he might be leaving,” Cotti said. “I’m disappointed but I know they’ll get someone just as good to replace him. I’m going there for the education mainly.”

Cotti helped Valley to 10-1 records in each of the past two seasons.

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Center Sean Anderson and defensive lineman Ronald Aumua, neither of whom played football in 1995, have committed to play at Cal State Northridge.

Anderson (6 feet 1 and 270 pounds) is the son of Northridge secondary coach Foster Anderson. He played at Montclair Prep and at Santa Barbara City College in 1993 and 1994.

He accepted a scholarship to Missouri Western for the past season, but he left the school before the season started because of a dispute with an assistant coach.

Anderson enrolled at College of the Canyons, which does not have a football program, ensuring he would still have two seasons of college eligibility.

Aumua (6-1, 275) played in 1993 and 1994 at Chabot College in Hayward. He sat out last year while meeting Division I academic requirements.

Aumua also considered attending Cal State Sacramento.

Junior college players can sign with four-year schools starting Wednesday.

Soccer

Four Moorpark College players and one from Oxnard have been selected to the All-Western State Conference women’s team.

The Raider players, all sophomores, are Cathy McGowan from Royal High, Lori Haskell from Hart, Johanna Nicholson from Simi Valley and Michelle Ranuschio from Monroe.

Stephanie Nikirk, a sophomore from Oxnard, also was selected to the squad.

Tennis

Maureen Newton Elliot has been hired as women’s coach at Ventura College.

Newton Elliot, who played for the Pirates and at Ventura High, was an assistant on the team last season.

She formerly coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams at El Capitan High in San Diego.

Basketball

Birmingham High center David Redmond, who missed the Braves’ final two games of the Beverly Hills tournament last week, has quit the team, Coach Al Bennett said.

Redmond, a 6-6 junior, led Birmingham to the City Section 3-A Division title game last season and was the lone returning starter for the Braves.

Contributing: Fernando Dominguez, Jeff Fletcher, Michael Lazarus.