Sports in brief: Iupati coaches’ All-American

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Idaho senior guard Mike Iupati is an American Football Coaches Association All-American, the AFCA announced Thursday.

Iupati, a graduate of Western HS (Anaheim, Calif.), is one of 24 players voted to the team by the AFCA membership.

He is Idaho’s first AFCA All-American since Ryan Phillips in 1995 and the Vandals’ first since they moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) in 1996.

Iupati is also a finalist for the Outland Trophy, which honors college football’s best interior lineman.

Mangino resigns at Kansas

College football: Kansas coach Mark Mangino has resigned amid an investigation into his treatment of his players, stepping down just two years after leading the Jayhawks to the greatest season in their checkered football history.

The university made the announcement Thursday as athletic director Lew Perkins met with players to give them the news.

The school said last month it would probe Mangino’s treatment of his team. Many former players described insensitive, humiliating remarks they claim he made to them in the heat of games or practice, often in front of others.

“Some players will be happy to see him go and others will be sad to see him go,” defensive back Justin Thornton said. “He did a lot of good for a lot of people here.”

Mangino coached the last two games while the probe was ongoing and remained defiant, insisting he had done nothing wrong and intended to return for a ninth season. He and his supporters said his trouble with Perkins, who arrived at Kansas after Mangino was hired, stemmed mostly from the season-ending, seven-game skid.

After winning their first five games this year and rising to No. 16 in the rankings the Jayhawks failed to win another game.

Associated Press

Carroll coach honored

College football: Carroll College (Helena) football coach Mike Van Diest has been selected the NAIA regional coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association.

It is the third straight year Van Diest has won the award for Region 5.

Second-ranked Carroll College has a 13-0 record heading into Saturday’s semifinal against third-ranked Lindenwood University.

Associated Press