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Sports Briefs: Johnson leaves Stanford for LSU coaching job
By The Associated Press
Friday, April 11, 2008 | No comments posted.
NEW ORLEANS — LSU introduced Stanford’s Trent Johnson, who led the Cardinal to the round of 16 in this year’s NCAA tournament, as its new coach Thursday.
“The opportunity to recruit the best student-athletes across the country and have the opportunity to compete for championship year in and year out ... that is the goal,” said Johnson, who was 80-48 in four seasons at Stanford. “We have an excellent chance to get this thing turned around soon.”
Johnson had said recently he hoped to remain at Stanford, which lost to Texas in the NCAA tournament regional semifinals, and had been slated to meet with Cardinal athletic director Bob Bowlsby on Thursday to discuss a new contract.
Stanford hired Johnson in 2004 to replace Mike Montgomery, who left for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors for two seasons and last week was hired by Stanford’s Bay Area rival California.
Johnson was an assistant at Stanford before going to Nevada and then returning to the Cardinal.
Stanford’s twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, announced last week they would hire agents and enter the NBA draft, forgoing their final two seasons of eligibility.
LSU went to the Final Four only three seasons ago, but failed to make the NCAA tournament in each of the past two years. The Tigers went 13-18 this season, and coach John Brady was fired during the year.
Assistant Butch Pierre took over Feb. 8 and led LSU to victories in five of its last nine games, but the Tigers lost in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
SacramentoState hires Katz
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State hired Brian Katz as its men’s basketball coach on Thursday, ending a month-long search for Jerome Jenkins’ replacement.
Katz, a 50-year-old Sacramento State graduate and Sacramento native, has been a successful junior college coach at San Joaquin Delta College in nearby Stockton for the past 15 years, winning three conference titles in the last four seasons. He also has been an assistant at Santa Clara and a head coach at Lassen College.
“I’ve always dreamed about coaching here at Sac State,” Katz said. “My mom and dad, before they passed, wanted me to coach at Sac State. Right now, I think they are proud.”
Katz replaces Jenkins, who was dismissed by Sacramento State on March 7 after going 80-147 in eight seasons. The Hornets, who haven’t had a winning season in Division I play since 1991, went 4-24 and finished last in the Big Sky Conference this season.
Self staying at Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Bill Self has reached an agreement on a new contract with Kansas, just days after leading the Jayhawks to their first NCAA basketball title in 20 years.
Self met with athletic director Lew Perkins on Wednesday and Thursday, and they emerged at an afternoon news conference to say they had reached general agreement on a deal that is still being finalized.
The deal would replace the contract extension Self signed last year that pays him $1.375 million annually.
Self has indicated several times since winning the NCAA championship on Monday night that he was inclined to remain at Kansas. There has been speculation that Oklahoma State, where he played and coached, might make a megabucks offer to lure him away.
On Wednesday night, Self said he heard from Oklahoma State and felt obligated to discuss the open job there — not because he wanted to leave Kansas but because of his “true affection” for his alma mater.
GOLF
Ochoa leads in home country
MORELIA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa shrugged off any home-turf jitters in the Corona Championship, eagling two par 5s in a 7-under 66 and tying for the lead with South Korea’s Song-Hee Kim at the rugged Tres Marias course in western Mexico.
The top-ranked Mexican star, fresh off her second consecutive major victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, eagled the fifth and eighth holes, with her fans filling the steep, rocky valleys with cheers of “Bravo!” and “Vamos, Lorena!”
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Notre Dame, BC to meet for title
DENVER — Calle Ridderwall punched the puck past freshman Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan 5:44 into overtime, giving Notre Dame a 5-4 victory over the top-ranked Wolverines in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Notre Dame will face Boston College for the championship Saturday night at the Pepsi Center. Nathan Gerbe’s hat trick helped Boston College advance to its third straight championship game — all at North Dakota’s expense.
SWIMMING
Hardy breaks breaststroke record
MANCHESTER, England — Jessica Hardy has set a world record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke at the short-course swimming world championships. The 21-year-old American finished in 29.58 seconds Thursday to shave 0.32 off the record. Jade Edmistone of Australia had set the previous mark of 29.90 in 2004.
BASEBALL
Carmona staying with Indians
CLEVELAND — The Indians tucked away one of their aces.
Fausto Carmona, a surprising 19-game winner who wasn’t bugged by swarming insects in his first postseason start last October, agreed Thursday to a $15 million, four-year contract with the Indians, a deal that potentially can earn him $48 million.
There was no rush to sign the 24-year-old, but the Indians are convinced Carmona’s best days are ahead and rewarded him with the highest guarantee to a pre-arbitration eligible starter.
“The opportunity to recruit the best student-athletes across the country and have the opportunity to compete for championship year in and year out ... that is the goal,” said Johnson, who was 80-48 in four seasons at Stanford. “We have an excellent chance to get this thing turned around soon.”
Johnson had said recently he hoped to remain at Stanford, which lost to Texas in the NCAA tournament regional semifinals, and had been slated to meet with Cardinal athletic director Bob Bowlsby on Thursday to discuss a new contract.
Stanford hired Johnson in 2004 to replace Mike Montgomery, who left for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors for two seasons and last week was hired by Stanford’s Bay Area rival California.
Johnson was an assistant at Stanford before going to Nevada and then returning to the Cardinal.
Stanford’s twin 7-footers, Brook and Robin Lopez, announced last week they would hire agents and enter the NBA draft, forgoing their final two seasons of eligibility.
LSU went to the Final Four only three seasons ago, but failed to make the NCAA tournament in each of the past two years. The Tigers went 13-18 this season, and coach John Brady was fired during the year.
Assistant Butch Pierre took over Feb. 8 and led LSU to victories in five of its last nine games, but the Tigers lost in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference tournament.
SacramentoState hires Katz
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento State hired Brian Katz as its men’s basketball coach on Thursday, ending a month-long search for Jerome Jenkins’ replacement.
Katz, a 50-year-old Sacramento State graduate and Sacramento native, has been a successful junior college coach at San Joaquin Delta College in nearby Stockton for the past 15 years, winning three conference titles in the last four seasons. He also has been an assistant at Santa Clara and a head coach at Lassen College.
“I’ve always dreamed about coaching here at Sac State,” Katz said. “My mom and dad, before they passed, wanted me to coach at Sac State. Right now, I think they are proud.”
Katz replaces Jenkins, who was dismissed by Sacramento State on March 7 after going 80-147 in eight seasons. The Hornets, who haven’t had a winning season in Division I play since 1991, went 4-24 and finished last in the Big Sky Conference this season.
Self staying at Kansas
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Bill Self has reached an agreement on a new contract with Kansas, just days after leading the Jayhawks to their first NCAA basketball title in 20 years.
Self met with athletic director Lew Perkins on Wednesday and Thursday, and they emerged at an afternoon news conference to say they had reached general agreement on a deal that is still being finalized.
The deal would replace the contract extension Self signed last year that pays him $1.375 million annually.
Self has indicated several times since winning the NCAA championship on Monday night that he was inclined to remain at Kansas. There has been speculation that Oklahoma State, where he played and coached, might make a megabucks offer to lure him away.
On Wednesday night, Self said he heard from Oklahoma State and felt obligated to discuss the open job there — not because he wanted to leave Kansas but because of his “true affection” for his alma mater.
GOLF
Ochoa leads in home country
MORELIA, Mexico — Lorena Ochoa shrugged off any home-turf jitters in the Corona Championship, eagling two par 5s in a 7-under 66 and tying for the lead with South Korea’s Song-Hee Kim at the rugged Tres Marias course in western Mexico.
The top-ranked Mexican star, fresh off her second consecutive major victory at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, eagled the fifth and eighth holes, with her fans filling the steep, rocky valleys with cheers of “Bravo!” and “Vamos, Lorena!”
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Notre Dame, BC to meet for title
DENVER — Calle Ridderwall punched the puck past freshman Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan 5:44 into overtime, giving Notre Dame a 5-4 victory over the top-ranked Wolverines in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Notre Dame will face Boston College for the championship Saturday night at the Pepsi Center. Nathan Gerbe’s hat trick helped Boston College advance to its third straight championship game — all at North Dakota’s expense.
SWIMMING
Hardy breaks breaststroke record
MANCHESTER, England — Jessica Hardy has set a world record in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke at the short-course swimming world championships. The 21-year-old American finished in 29.58 seconds Thursday to shave 0.32 off the record. Jade Edmistone of Australia had set the previous mark of 29.90 in 2004.
BASEBALL
Carmona staying with Indians
CLEVELAND — The Indians tucked away one of their aces.
Fausto Carmona, a surprising 19-game winner who wasn’t bugged by swarming insects in his first postseason start last October, agreed Thursday to a $15 million, four-year contract with the Indians, a deal that potentially can earn him $48 million.
There was no rush to sign the 24-year-old, but the Indians are convinced Carmona’s best days are ahead and rewarded him with the highest guarantee to a pre-arbitration eligible starter.
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