Nelson Hired as Northridge Pitching Coach

Jamie Nelson, 38, a longtime minor league player and coach, has been hired as pitching coach at Cal State Northridge.

Nelson replaces Randy Cooper, who held the job for one season on an interim basis.

Nelson managed the Tri-City Posse of the independent Western League in 1997 and the Palm Springs Suns in 1996. He was a player-coach with the Suns in ’95 and head coach at Cal Baptist in ’94.

Nelson played professionally for 13 years after being drafted out of Orange Coast College as a pitcher in 1978. He was converted to a catcher and played briefly for the Seattle Mariners in 1983, batting .219 in 96 at-bats.

Northridge Coach Mike Batesole and Nelson were assistants at Orange Coast in 1992. Nelson, who is Batesole’s fourth assistant in four seasons, will be responsible for catchers and recruiting in addition to pitchers.

GOLF

The second Danny Arnold Memorial Classic is scheduled for Monday at Valencia Country Club.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica.

Arnold, a television writer, director and producer, was co-creator and executive producer of the television show “Barney Miller.” He died of cancer in 1995.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Monday, with a putting contest scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and the tournament teeing off at 11 a.m.

A limited number of player openings are still available. Entry fee is $500 per person.

Tickets to an awards dinner after the tournament are being sold at $100 per person.

To register or for more information: (310) 449-5224.

BASKETBALL

Karon Howell, a former USC player who for the past five seasons was coach at Marlboro High, has been hired as a basketball assistant at Cal State Northridge.

Howell replaces Jeanette Armentano, who resigned to take a position as an assistant at Maryland.