Rae Hired by Channel Islands

Donnie Rae, a Ventura County native with an impressive coaching background in the college and high school ranks, was hired Monday as football coach at Channel Islands High.

Rae was head coach at Fresno Roosevelt High the last six years. In addition, he has been an assistant at USC, San Diego State, Nevada Las Vegas, San Jose State and Brigham Young.

“I think we got ourselves an outstanding choice,” said Mike Martinez, principal at Channel Islands. “[Roosevelt] is a school with similar demographics as ours and he turned that program around.”

Rae, who attended Villanova Prep in Ojai and Ventura College, replaces Jack Willard, who resigned after three seasons. The Raiders were 2-9 last season and are 15-75-2 since 1991.