Cunningham, Howell Picked to Coach Stars

Two coaches, one with a program on the rise and the other who thought he had coached for the last time, have been named to direct the teams for the 37th Orange County North-South Prep All-Star football game.

Western’s Jim Howell, who retired after 32 years of coaching--the last 17 with the Pioneers--will coach the North team in the July 12 game at Orange Coast College.

Howell, The Times Orange County coach of the year, had the county’s only 10-0 team during the regular season, and the Pioneers’ 12-1 record was the county’s best. He compiled a 99-83-5 record at Western, 35-11-2 the last four years.

University Coach Mark Cunningham, whose team (8-1-1 record) turned in its best performance in school history before winning its first playoff game since 1991, will coach the South.

Tickets are $7 at the game or $6 presale. They are available through county high schools, PADRE Foundation, Inc., Western Youth Services and Orange County Youth Foundation, Inc.

*

John Barnes, who directed Los Alamitos’ football program to national prominence, has been named head coach of the California team that will compete July 20 in the California-Texas Shrine All-Star game at Cal State Fullerton.

Barnes coached the Griffins, ranked No. 1 nationally in the preseason, to an 11-2 record and the semifinals of the Division I playoffs.