UCLA Reinstates Coach After Arrest

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ UCLA reinstated assistant football coach Eric Scott, who'd been on administrative leave after an arrest on suspicion of residential burglary last month. <br/><br/>Scott, who was

Saturday, August 11th 2007, 9:48 pm

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ UCLA reinstated assistant football coach Eric Scott, who'd been on administrative leave after an arrest on suspicion of residential burglary last month.

Scott, who was not charged in the burglary, met with head coach Karl Dorrell and UCLA administrators Friday. Dorrell told the team after Saturday's practice that Scott would be returning.

``After extensive deliberation with Coach Scott and a clear and thorough evaluation of the entire matter by the campus, we have decided to reinstate Eric to the coaching staff,'' Dorrell said in a statement.

Prosecutors had announced Thursday they would not charge the 32-year-old wide receivers coach and his cousin, Timothy Williams, in connection with the crime because witnesses and victims were either unavailable or uncooperative.

``I am sorry for any embarrassment I have caused the football team, the athletic program and the University,'' Scott said in a statement. ``I am grateful to Coach Dorrell and the UCLA administration for allowing me to resume my position.''

Scott has a criminal record, admitting guilt to separate misdemeanor concealed weapons charges in 1996 and 2005, and misdemeanor disturbing the peace in 2002. UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero has said the athletic department was unaware of that when Scott was hired.

``Eric and I have spoken at length about his background and his previous incidents, including the ones in which I was unaware, and the circumstances surrounding them,'' Dorrell said. ``Eric fully understands and is very clear on the importance of being a good role model and the standard of behavior expected of a coach at UCLA.''

Scott, Williams and Jesus DeAlba, both 23, were arrested July 24 for investigation of residential burglary after sheriff's deputies responded to a report of a burglary in suburban Norwalk.

Prosecutors said a decision was pending on whether to charge DeAlba.

Dorrell hired Scott, a Bruins receiver in 1995-97, as an assistant on March 6. Scott spent last season as an intern in the UCLA football program. He was an assistant coach at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles the previous seven years.