Fast Break

College football

Michalczik leaves UW

Two months into his job as Washington’s head coach and Steve Sarkisian is still dealing with two openings on his staff thanks to a pair of flip-flopping assistants.

The second, and more surprising, came Monday afternoon when the school announced that offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik was leaving Washington to become the offensive line coach with the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders confirmed the hiring Monday afternoon.

Last month, Washington announced the hiring of Aaron Roderick – a former teammate of Sarkisian’s at BYU – as the Huskies’ new wide receivers coach. A little more than a week later, the school said Roderick would be staying at Utah because of family-related matters.

Michalczik, a former Washington State University lineman, served the previous six seasons on the staff of Jeff Tedford at California, most recently holding the titles of offensive line coach, co-offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He was lured to Washington for the chance to be offensive coordinator – although Sarkisian intends to call plays – having grown up in Port Angeles, Wash., and a contract that paid a guaranteed $350,000 per season.

It will be Michalczik’s first coaching job in the NFL.

Rodeo

Durfey wins big in Texas

Colbert tie-down roper Tyson Durfey won the gold buckle in his event at the two-week Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo that concluded Sunday.

Durfey, who has qualified for the past two National Finals Rodeos and won two of the last three Canadian calf roping champinships, roped and tied three calves in 26 seconds. He earned a total of $14,786, which is enough to put him in fourth in the season standings.

The Missouri native won the first go-round and almost $5,700 with a time of 7.9 seconds. He was just out of the money with a time of 9.2 seconds in the second go-round. He won the average with a final round 8.9-second run, good for fourth and $599.

College basketball

Zags ranked despite loss

Gonzaga’s 68-50 loss to Memphis on Saturday in the Spokane Arena dropped the Zags one spot in the Associated Press men’s poll from 18th to 19th and three spots in the ESPN/USA Today poll from 18th to 21st.

“That doesn’t really matter much at this point in the season,” said Gonzaga forward Micah Downs. “At this point you just have to win games.”

Memphis soared from 14th to eighth in Associated Press poll and from 15th to 10th in ESPN/USAToday.