Ventura College Sports Program Investigated

VENTURA — The Ventura Community College District has launched an investigation into the Ventura College basketball program, alleging violations of state athletic regulations, college sources confirmed Tuesday.

The district hired a team of former FBI agents from Beverly Hills who specialize in looking into college athletics to investigate the allegations, sources said.

Officials had cited allegations of recruiting violations when they fired basketball coach Virgil Watson on March 12.

Chancellor Phil Westin and the district’s board of trustees said the Ventura County district attorney instructed them not to comment on the situation because its office is also engaged in an investigation.

“This is a desperate act,” said Lou Carpiac, Watson’s attorney, who is filing an appeal with the district, alleging violations of due process, privacy rights and character defamation. “The district is reaching to justify the termination because I don’t think they have the basis to do it on a strictly contractual basis.”

Once the investigation is completed, the school must make a report to the Western State Conference outlining any infractions and recommendations for self-sanctions.

The WSC commissioner, Aviva Kamin, said she has not received any official documents on the matter and that the investigation could take as long as two months.