COALINGA -- West Hills College-Coalinga named Cal Tincher to replace Mark Gritton as the school's head football coach this week.

Tincher takes over the head coach position after spending the last four seasons as the Falcons' offensive coordinator.

"I am very pleased to announce Cal Tincher as the new head football coach," said West Hills president Dr. Willard Lewallen. "Cal Tincher is very familiar with our football program and athletics department, so I expect he will ease into his new position with no problem."

Tincher, who is originally from Redding, first worked at West Hills in 1999, when he assumed duties as offensive coordinator as well as a history instructor. He helped the Falcons win the Central Valley Conference that season.

After leaving the school in 2001, he returned to West Hills' offensive coordinator post in 2004 as well as teaching history, humanities and physical education.

Earlier, he coached at College of the Siskiyous, Portland State University, El Camino High School in Sacramento, Sonora High, and Chino Valley High in Arizona.

Tincher is a graduate of Santa Clara, where he received a bachelor's degree in political science. He received a master's degree in history from Portland State and is now pursuing a master's in kinesiology at Fresno Pacific University.

Gritton's distinguished 12-year stint a West Hills coach ended when he resigned to take the school's athletic director post in February.

GOLF

Golden Eagles second to Fresno

FRESNO -- West Hills College-Lemoore had five golfers shoot under 80, but Fresno set a school-record score of 354 to win a Central Valley Conference mini-tournament at Fig Garden Golf Course on Thursday.

West Hills finished with 381 strokes. Steve Tarkon led the way with a 2-under-par 70, Blake Ahlin followed with a 76, Matt Kairis had a 77, and Paden Martin and Derrick Braaten shot 79s. The Rams beat third-place Reedley by nine strokes.

Steve Baronian of Fresno took low-medalist honors with a 68. Tarkon was second, and Christian Rose and Keith Rodriguez of Fresno carded 71s. The Rams took four of the top five spots.