Johnson Stays Put and Serra Hires Gonzalez

Mission Viejo football Coach Bob Johnson, who has guided the Diablos to consecutive Southern Section Division II titles, considered an offer to coach at San Juan Capistrano Serra next season but decided to stay put after a lengthy deliberation.

“We’ve just got the thing going really strong at Mission and really like it there as a staff,” said Johnson, whose Diablos are riding a 28-game winning streak. “Starting anew, we didn’t think it was the best [decision] after weighing the pros and cons.”

After Johnson passed on the offer, Serra officials hired former Los Angeles Franklin coach Armando Gonzalez, a friend of Johnson’s whom he recommended for the job. Gonzalez had a 159-35-3 record in 17 seasons with the Panthers.

The Lions will play a varsity schedule in all sports beginning in September even though only freshmen and sophomores will initially be enrolled. Former University of California athletic director John Kasser will serve as the school’s athletic director.

Other hires in the athletic department include boys’ basketball Coach James Larson, a former Pepperdine assistant; boys’ and girls’ volleyball Coach Troy Tanner, an Olympic gold medalist; baseball Coach Mike Schubert, a former Laguna Beach coach; softball Coach Scott Holmes, a former club coach; girls’ soccer Coach Hugh Donald, who has worked with the Olympic development program, and boys’ soccer Coach Carlos Garcia, a former club coach.

-- Ben Bolch

The seventh Valley Sports Foundation Battle of the Valley All-Star basketball games will be May 3 at Cal State Northridge.

The girls’ game will begin at 5 p.m., with the boys’ game to follow at 7 p.m. Tickets, which include admission to both games, are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

The Battle of the Valley features the top graduating seniors from the San Fernando, Santa Clarita, Conejo and Simi valleys.

Unlike previous years, when the game pitted the region’s premier City Section players against their Southern Section counterparts, this year’s game will feature an East-West format.

-- Dave Desmond

The seventh East-West High School All-Star football game is scheduled for May 31 at Lake Balboa Birmingham High.

Troy Thomas of Encino Crespi will coach the West and Anthony Harris of North Hollywood Campbell Hall will coach the East. They are former teammates at Cal State Northridge.