In brief

Announced by the athletic department that Portland tennis legend Brian Parrott would replace the departed Steven Ascher as head coach of the men’s and women’s tennis teams. Parrott comes to the South Park Blocks from Oregon Episcopal School where he led the team to three consecutive state titles. Parrott’s son Travis is a professional tennis player who has been ranked as high as No. 38 in the world.

Returned to form was the women’s golf team, who came on strong to finish last season atop the Big Sky Conference standings. The team has started its fall schedule strong, claiming the team championship at a tournament in Idaho. This victory came behind a medalist performance from sophomore Stephanie Johns.

Elevated to the status of head coach of the softball team was former assistant coach Tobin Echo-Hawk. She had been an assistant the past two seasons under former head coach Amy Hayes, who left Portland State in August to take the head coaching position at Bradley University in Illinois.

Predicted by Blue Ribbon College Sports Publications, the Portland State men’s basketball squad will repeat as Big Sky Conference Champions. The forecasters also foresaw senior point guard Jeremiah Dominguez earning his second consecutive player of the year honors and sophomore forward Phil Nelson taking home the newcomer of the year award after transferring from Washington. The Vikings begin play on November 15 at Rice in Houston, Texas.

Inducted into the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame will be five former Viking athletes and one championship-winning team this year. The individual honorees include football players Jimmy Blanchard, Tim Von Dulm and Barry Naone, and former wrestling coach Marlin Grahn. The 1992 volleyball squad that earned Portland State its last national championship will also be inducted.

Depleted was the Washington State quarterback situation after blowing out Portland State last week. Despite cruising to a 48-9 victory over the Vikings, the Cougars lost two quarterbacks to season- and potentially career-ending back and neck injuries. The injuries may only further impair the Cougars season under first-year coach Paul Wulff.

Bolstered by the $225,000 check that the Vikings received for playing Washington State last week in Pullman is Portland State athletics. Football Bowl Subdivision teams often receive large sums of money for playing Division I opponents, and the Vikings should get even bigger checks from games against Oregon and Arizona State scheduled for 2009 and 2010, respectively.