Stoller Gets Moved Up at Van Nuys

Terry Stoller has been named athletic director at Van Nuys High, Principal Russ Thompson said Thursday.

Stoller, formerly an assistant athletic director, is the third athletic director in the past seven months at the school. He replaces Jim Friery, who stepped down for personal reasons. In January, Friery replaced Steve Kalan, who was reassigned.

The Van Nuys athletic department has been beset with problems the past two years. It was placed on a one-year probation in December by the City Section Rules Committee for infractions in girls’ volleyball and boys’ soccer.

The school was already on probation for the 1996-97 school year in football and its girls’ soccer program is on probation for the 1997-98 school year.

Thompson also said Ken Ray has been hired as boys’ soccer coach, replacing Vincent Recalde. Ray is a math teacher and has been a youth soccer coach, Thompson said.

In another soccer move, Thompson said Van Nuys girls’ soccer Coach Olumuiyiwa Idowu will not return next season. No replacement has been named.

Both of the Wolves’ soccer programs were involved in controversy last season. The boys’ team held illegal practices, leading to the dismissal of assistant Raul Parades, and the girls’ team was cited by City Section officials for illegally scrimmaging Cleveland.

BASEBALL

Former Channel Islands High baseball standout Charles Merricks has signed with UCLA, Bruin officials said Thursday.

Merricks, an outfielder and pitcher for the Raiders, batted .443 and stole 20 bases last season. He was a second-team selection on The Times’ All-Ventura County squad the past two seasons.

The USA Baseball Youth Team will meet Cuba today in a quarterfinal game in the International Baseball Assn. AA Youth World Championships at Hsin-Chu Municipal Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan.

Team USA includes third baseman Kevin Howard of Westlake High and relief pitcher Jesse Kozlowski of Simi Valley.