Islanders hire AHL coach of year Gordon

The New York Islanders hired Scott Gordon, the AHL coach of the year, on Tuesday to replace dismissed head coach Ted Nolan.

Gordon emerged as the choice of general manager Garth Snow after an extensive search following Nolan’s departure on July 14 and agreed to a multiyear deal with the team.

The 45-year-old Gordon, who guided the Providence Bruins to the second round of the playoffs last season and the AHL’s best record, got the job over established National Hockey League coaches such as John Tortorella, Joel Quenneville, Bob Hartley, Paul Maurice and Mike Sullivan, who all interviewed for the post.

“Scott has been one of the top up-and-coming coaches in hockey and with good reason,” Snow said in a statement. “Through his work in the minor leagues and most recently with Providence over the last eight years, he has gained an impeccable reputation. The entire Islanders organization looks forward to working with Scott.”

Gordon played in 23 NHL games over two seasons with the Quebec Nordiques as a goalie. His career mark was 2-16 with a 5.60 goals-against average.

Wrestling

Cornhuskers dismissed

Two Nebraska wrestlers, including one who won an NCAA championship in 2007, have been dismissed from the team after posing naked for videos and photographs on an Internet pornography site.

Paul Donahoe, the national champion 125-pounder in 2007, and Kenny Jordan were let go three days after a blog posted images of them taken from Fratmentv.com, a Web site featuring naked or partially clothed male athletes.

Boxing

Gilbert settles

Suspended boxer Joey Gilbert agreed to pay a $10,000 fine for a positive steroid test as part of a settlement with the Nevada Athletic Commission that will allow him to return to the ring as soon as Sept. 22.

Gilbert agreed to the fine and a one-year suspension retroactive to his last fight nearly a year ago. In exchange, the panel dropped all but one charge related to a banned substance found in his system – a metabolite from an anabolic steroid.

The 31-year-old middleweight from Reno, Nev., gained international attention on the NBC reality series “The Contender” in 2005. He was temporarily suspended when he tested positive for the substances after his knockout victory over Charles Howe in Reno last Sept. 21.

Basketball

Hornets head overseas

The New Orleans Hornets will play seven preseason games prior to their season opener at Golden State in late October, including two games in Europe as part of NBA Europe Live.

The Hornets take on the Washington Wizards on Oct. 14 at in Berlin, Germany, and close out NBA Europe Live on Oct. 17 in Barcelona, Spain.

•Duke associate athletic director Jacki Silar has been chosen chairwoman of the NCAA Division I women’s committee for 2008-09.