Ventura College Hit With Tough Penalties

The troubled Ventura College men’s basketball program will be stripped of two Western State Conference titles--and possibly a state title--and be placed on two years’ probation for violating state athletic rules, Ventura administrators said Wednesday.

WSC officials on Wednesday unanimously approved sanctions against Ventura that jeopardize the Pirates’ 1996 state championship and bar the team from postseason play in 1998 and ‘99, said Dick James, Ventura’s athletic coordinator.

“I’m shocked,” James said. “It’s about as strict as they could have gone.”

Bob Dinaberg, athletic director at Santa Barbara College, declined comment but said the 13-team conference will announce its decision today. Aviva Kamin, WSC commissioner, could not be reached for comment.

Last month, the findings of a five-month investigation alleged that former coach Virgil Watson had committed numerous violations--including giving players money and free meals, and providing them with access to campus vehicles and facilities.

Watson was fired in March.