Newsmakers
Declared Alabama All-America linebacker Rolando McClain is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. McClain anchored the national champion Crimson Tide’s defense and is projected as a first-round pick. He led Alabama with 105 tackles, 14.5 for losses in 2009, and had two interceptions. He was the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker in 2009.
Agreed Oregon State football coach Mike Riley has agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2019. The extension, announced by the university late Sunday, effectively quashes rumors that Riley might be a candidate for the Southern California job. At the American Football Coaches Association convention in Orlando, Fla., Riley told the Associated Press he was never contacted by USC and had no intentions of leaving Corvallis.
Extended Michigan basketball coach John Beilein has agreed to a contract extension to lead the Wolverines through the 2015-16 season. Beilein’s total compensation under the new contract will be $1.7 million in 2010-11. It rises to $1.8 million in 2012-13 and $1.9 million by the 2013-14 season. Beilein is in his third season with the Wolverines. He has a 39-43 overall mark with Michigan, including an 8-7 record this season.
Fired Basketball coach Jerry Wainwright was fired from his post at DePaul, which has lost 22 straight regular-season games in the Big East Conference. He was replaced on an interim basis by assistant Tracy Webster. The Blue Demons are 7-8 and 0-3 in the Big East this season, Wainwright’s fifth at DePaul. He has two years left on his contract after this season.
Waived Former first-round draft pick Sean Williams has been waived by the New Jersey Nets. Nets president Rod Thorn released the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Williams, a 6-foot-10 forward out of Boston College, averaged 4.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 126 career games. He saw limited action in 20 games this season, averaging 2.6 points and 2.3 rebounds.
Out Milwaukee Bucks’ star Michael Redd had his first season with a surgically repaired left knee end the same way his previous one did. Redd tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee for the second time in less than a year Sunday night in the second quarter of Milwaukee’s 95-77 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. An MRI in Phoenix revealed the injury, which will require surgery. The Bucks guard previously had surgery in March after tearing the same ligaments last January. The 30-year-old Redd has a player option worth $18.3 million remaining on his $90 million contract signed in 2005, but he will have missed 152 games over four seasons going into 2010-11.