Thornton Joins Titan Coaching Staff Full-Time

Former UC Irvine player Bob Thornton has been promoted to full-time assistant on Fullerton men’s basketball Coach Bob Hawking’s staff.

Thornton had joined the Titans as a restricted-earnings coach last month. Thornton played for eight years in the the NBA and three years in the Italian pro league. He previously was an assistant at Orange Coast College and Chapman.

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Gregg Savage has been named girls’ basketball coach at Newport Harbor High, the school announced Monday.

Savage, who replaces Ryan Bettencourt, will head the girls’ basketball program. Savage was an assistant coach with the varsity boys’ team and the head coach of the boys’ sophomore team last season.

The Sailors (8-18) finished last season fifth in the Sea View League at 3-7.

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Five men and two women from Orange County have earned spots on the 1998 Open Water National Team, according to USA Swimming.

Former Laguna Hills High star Chad Carvin leads the men’s list, followed by Aaron Lehr of San Juan Capistrano, Ryan Utsumi of Fullerton, and James Davison and Steve McLeod of Mission Viejo. Jennifer McLeod of Mission Viejo and Morgan Filler of San Clemente were the women selected. Except for Utsumi, who swims for SoCal in Tustin, all the swimmers train with the Mission Viejo Nadadores.

The national team, composed of 20 swimmers, compete in national and international events throughout the year.