Westphal Selects Pepperdine Assistants

Paul Westphal, Pepperdine’s new men’s basketball coach, has selected Gib Arnold and Jim Nielsen as his assistants.

Arnold was former coach Jan van Breda Kolff’s assistant the last two seasons. Nielsen was head coach the last nine years at Redondo Union High.

Arnold spent a season as a Vanderbilt assistant under Van Breda Kolff and also coached at Loyola Marymount and Utah Valley State following his graduation from Brigham Young in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Nielsen coached the Sea Hawks to a 193-68 cumulative record and a Southern Section Division II title last season.

“I felt it was important to maintain some sense of continuity from the previous staff, and Gib was a logical choice based upon his experience and recruiting contacts,” Westphal said. “[Nielsen] helped shape Redondo Union High into one of the nation’s premier high school programs. He will bring an unmatched work ethic, excellent values and dedication to his new assignment at Pepperdine.”

FOOTBALL

* Steve Kingery, an assistant coach under Joel Schaeffer, has been hired as head coach at Reseda High. He replaces Schaeffer, who resigned after 23 years as the Regents’ coach.

Kingery was the freshman-sophomore coach for four years before joining the varsity staff. He will serve as offensive coordinator. Matt Graham, a former Reseda player, will be defensive coordinator.

VOLLEYBALL

* Outside hitter Kamil Kowalski of Royal became the second player to sign with the Cal State Northridge men’s team.

The 6-foot Kowalski, a three-year starter who was recruited to play libero, joins Raudel De La Riva, a 6-8 middle blocker from Roosevelt.

SWIMMING

* Senior Alexis Sheridan of Crescenta Valley has signed with UC Irvine.

Sheridan, who placed fourth in the 500-yard freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle in the Southern Section Division II girls’ championships last year, also considered Brigham Young, Northern Arizona and Pacific.

TENNIS

* The Northridge women’s tennis team won the Big Sky Conference championship and has received an automatic bid to the NCAA championships May 11-13 at a site to be determined. Pairings will be announced May 3.