Mathews Taking On Added Role at Ventura : Colleges: Basketball coach says he has been named athletic director.

VENTURA —  Philip Mathews, the highly successful men’s basketball coach at Ventura College, said Friday he has been named the school’s athletic director.

The appointment became effective July 1, but Mathews said the college has not officially announced it yet. He replaces Jerry Dunlap, who resigned in May after holding the position for 19 years. Dunlap is now a physical education teacher at Ventura.

Mathews, 43, said he is looking forward to his new duties.

“It’ll be challenging coaching basketball and being the A.D.,” Mathews said. “But it’s something I think I can handle. I think it’ll be a nice career move to get into athletic administration.”

Mathews took over the Pirate basketball program during the 1985-86 season and quickly built it into one of the finest among junior colleges in the country, winning the state title the following season.

He is 261-55 over nine seasons at Ventura and has won 30 or more games in a season five times, including the past four seasons.

Last season, the Pirates won their eighth consecutive Western State Conference North Division title and reached the state championship title game for the second consecutive year, but lost to Long Beach City, 63-61, in the final at UC Irvine.

The selection of Mathews is one of several moves made over the summer by the Ventura athletic department.

A few weeks ago, Don Adams was named baseball coach to replace Gary Anglin, who resigned after last season, his 17th with the Pirates.

Also, Miki McFadden was hired recently to head the women’s volleyball program.

McFadden, who played for the United States in the 1968 Olympics, replaced Sharon McAlexander, who resigned.