Fontana Names Smith as Football Coach

Richard Smith, who guided Bloomington High to Southern Section Division VIII football titles in 1998 and 1999, has been named coach at Fontana, replacing Bob Stangel Jr., who resigned in January in the aftermath of a violent incident that occurred after a playoff loss.

Several Fontana players attacked Loyola coaches and players after a 28-7 first-round defeat Nov. 19 at Pierce College. Thirteen Fontana players were suspended from school and two were expelled for their roles in the incident.

Senior Anthony Robinson, 18, last week pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of battery on school property and a judge sentenced him to three years probation.

Two of four juveniles arrested after the brawl have been put on probation and will be supervised by the Los Angeles County Probation Department’s Gang Alternative Prevention Program.

The department closed the case against a third juvenile after review. The fourth juvenile went to Juvenile Court recently and his case is pending.

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First-round soccer playoff games begin Friday and Saturday in five boys’ and five girls’ divisions.

First-round girls’ water polo games in five divisions begin Saturday.

Division wrestling finals begin Friday and conclude Saturday. Winners and top qualifiers advance to the Masters meet Feb. 26.

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A memorial service for former Hawthorne track and field coach Kye Courtney will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Nativity Catholic Church in Torrance.

Courtney, who led Hawthorne to 11 section and seven state titles, died Feb. 8 of cancer. He was 60.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Kim Courtney Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1644, Laguna Beach, CA 92652.

The fund was established in memory of Courtney’s daughter, who died in 1980. The fund finances a scholarship awarded to the top girls’ athlete at Dana Hills High.