Trustee: Petrino accepts Louisville coaching offer
A member of the Louisville board of trustees says Western Kentucky’s Bobby Petrino has accepted an offer to be the Cardinals next head football coach.
Jonathan Blue told The Associated Press Wednesday evening that it’s a “done deal.” Blue said the University of Louisville Athletic Association will meet Thursday morning and barring any unforeseen issues is expected to approve athletic director Tom Jurich’s recommendation to have Petrino replace Charlie Strong, who accepted the Texas job over the weekend.
Petrino, 52, returns to the school he led to a 41-9 record from 2003-06 as a first-time head coach. He has an 83-30 career record as a college head coach, including an 8-4 mark last season with the Hilltoppers, his first position since his April 2012 firing by Arkansas amid scandal.
Redskins interview Bengals coordinator Jay Gruden
WASHINGTON — There were growing indications Wednesday that the Washington Redskins are interested in trying to hire Jay Gruden as their next coach. But there also were questions about whether Gruden, the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals who is being pursued by several other NFL teams with head coaching vacancies, would accept the Redskins’ job if offered.
Gruden interviewed with Redskins officials Wednesday at the team’s headquarters in Ashburn, Va.
“I think he’s their first choice,” according to a person familiar with the team’s thinking, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly on the team’s or Gruden’s behalf.
That person expressed the view that Gruden probably would prefer the Tennessee Titans’ coaching job over the Redskins’ job, but added that his understanding is that Redskins owner Daniel Snyder might make a financial offer that would be difficult for Gruden to reject.
McDaniels takes himself out for Browns job
CLEVELAND — Josh McDaniels’ second chance as an NFL head coach won’t be with the Browns.
McDaniels, labeled a favorite to take over in Cleveland, removed himself from consideration for the Browns’ opening Wednesday, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. McDaniels pulled his name after learning he was not the front-runner for the job, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
ESPN first reported McDaniels’ withdrawal.
McDaniels interviewed with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner last weekend, when the Patriots had a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. McDaniels, fired as Denver’s coach in 2010 after 28 games, confirmed he met with the Browns but did not elaborate on the interview and said “I’m fortunate to have the job I have and I love being here. I love doing what I’m doing.”
NFL rules prohibited the Browns from offering their job to McDaniels, a Canton, Ohio, native — or any other coach in the playoffs — until their respective season ends.
As McDaniels was removed from their list, the Browns interviewed Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, a person familiar with the meeting told the AP.
McAdoo, who emerged as a surprise candidate in recent days, met with Browns officials Wednesday in Green Bay, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicizing information about the search. The 36-year-old McAdoo spent the past two seasons working with star QB Aaron Rodgers.
The Browns’ search is in its second week after Haslam and Banner fired first-year coach Rob Chudzinski following a 4-12 season.
McAdoo received strong endorsements form Rodgers and Packers coach Mike McCarthy.
Knicks’ Smith fined $50Kfor shoelace stunt
NEW YORK — The NBA gave J.R. Smith a warning — and then a $50,000 fine when he ignored it.
The league penalized the New York Knicks guard again Wednesday, this time for “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct” after he tried to untie an opponent’s sneaker for a second time in two games.
Smith untied Mavericks forward Shawn Marion’s shoe while they were standing next to each other during a free throw attempt at Dallas on Sunday and was warned not to repeat the act by the league office.
Coach Mike Woodson had said before Tuesday’s home game against Detroit that Smith shouldn’t be doing things like that, but the reserve guard then tried it again on Greg Monroe during a free throw attempt — with league disciplinarian Rod Thorn in attendance.
“I’ve always said I don’t condone things that I know you shouldn’t do and no, I’m not happy about this, because again, he was warned, he comes back and he makes the same mistake and it’s not right,” Woodson said during a radio interview with ESPN New York.
Ex-Germany midfielder Hitzlsperger says he’s gay
BERLIN — Former Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger said he is gay.
In an interview published by Die Zeit newspaper on Wednesday, Hitzlsperger said, “I am expressing my sexuality because I want to promote the discussion of homosexuality among professional athletes.”
The 31-year-old Hitzlsperger said he felt now was the right time, four months after retirement following a career in England, Italy and Germany, to approach a subject he feels is “simply ignored.”
Hitzlsperger played 52 games for Germany from 2004-11. He also played for Aston Villa, Stuttgart, Lazio and Wolfsburg.
He said “only in the last few years did it dawn on me that I would rather live with a man.”
FIFA: 2022 World Cup won’t be in June or July
PARIS — FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke says the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be held in June or July because of the Gulf country’s summer heat.
Valcke told France-Inter radio that he expects the tournament to be held “between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15 at the latest.”
Valcke is leading FIFA’s consultation to suggest which months to play after president Sepp Blatter rejected the traditional June-July World Cup period because of the heat.
By wire sources