Some news and notes from the Pontiac Notre Dame Prep athletic department:

Former Walled Lake Central assistant Whitney Robinson has been hired as the Fighting Irish's new head boys basketball coach. Robinson prepped at Harper Woods Notre Dame as a crafty point guard in the 1990s, winning multiple district titles alongside all-state forward Greg Stempin (Toledo), and then made waves at the college level as a standout floor general in the MAC with Central Michigan.

Fighting Irish girls sophomore soccer star Taylor Timko has scored a total of 51 goals the past two years. She scored the game-winner in NDP's downing of AA Gabriel Richard in the regional semifinals back on Wednesday and then put in two more and added an assist in the Fighting Irish's 4-1 stomping of Grosse Ile in the regional finals Friday. The University of Michigan-commit has 29 goals and 19 assists so far this year and is also an all-conference track and field runner, qualifying for the state meet in two different events.

A compelling transfer will dot the NDP football roster this upcoming season in former Clarkston quarterback Brendan Newvine. When he was a freshman back at C-Town, Newvine won the job as the Wolves JV field general until being forced into duty on the varsity due to injury and starting three games at the end of the 2010 campaign, including the squad's district playoff opener versus Grand Blanc. Newvine, who will be a junior in the fall, will compete for the Fighting Irish starting signal-calling job in camp come August.

On the subject of TEAM ZIMM and the GREEN & GOLD gridiron gang, expect junior-to-be Jeremiah Johnson to have a HUGE season toting the rock – Burney foresees at least 1250 and 12 TDs….YEAH, I SAID IT!!!