Gold Medalist Watts Returning to Taft High

Quincy Watts, who won gold medals in the 400 meters and 1,600 relay in the 1992 Olympic Games at Barcelona, has been hired as track coach for next season at his alma mater, Woodland Hills Taft High.

Watts, who graduated from Taft in 1988, was a three-time state champion in high school. He went on to win the NCAA 400 title at USC and the Olympic gold medals at age 22.

In other coaching news:

* Rebecca Freebury Kieft, a 1996 graduate of Palos Verdes Peninsula, will take over the girls’ cross-country program at her alma mater.

Freebury Kieft will replace Joe Kelly, who will retire from teaching and coaching at the end of the school year. Peninsula won state Division I girls’ titles in 1994, 2000 and 2001 under Kelly.

* Mark Berokoff, who guided Downey Calvary Chapel to the Southern Section Division V-AA boys’ basketball title in 2001, has been named coach at Morro Bay.

Berokoff also took Fullerton Eastside Christian to the Division V-A championship game in 2000 and has compiled a 117-35 record in five seasons.

* Matt West has been promoted from assistant boys’ soccer coach at Santa Ana Mater Dei to girls’ coach. Before coming to Mater Dei, West coached boys’ soccer at Newport Harbor for three years.