Newsmakers
Hired Montana State women’s basketball coach Tricia Binford says former Gonzaga head coach Kellee Barney has joined the MSU staff as an assistant coach. Barney replaces Giuliana Mendiola, who left MSU to take an assistant coaching job at UC Riverside. Barney served as an assistant coach at Oregon State from 2008-10 and before that was assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Arizona for six seasons. She was head coach at Gonzaga from 1994-2000. Barney played at Idaho and was associate head coach at Washington State University from 1985-94.
Selected NBA coaches Doc Rivers and Doug Collins will serve as basketball analysts for NBC during this summer’s Olympics. The network announced an announcer lineup for the London Games full of familiar faces. Bob Costas will serve as prime-time host for the ninth time. Al Michaels and Dan Patrick will handle that role for NBC’s live weekday and weekend daytime coverage.
Offered The Orlando Magic extended a qualifying offer to forward Ryan Anderson, the team announced. New general manager Rob Henningan made the move, which allows the team to retain the right to match any offer the third-year forward and reigning NBA Most Improved Player receives on the open market. All-Star Dwight Howard has yet to sign a deal beyond next year. In addition, point guard Jameer Nelson holds a player option for next season that must be decided by today. The team must decide by July 7 whether to waive guard J.J. Redick or pay the final year of his deal. Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns extended qualifying offers to center Robin Lopez and guard Aaron Brooks, making both restricted free agents.
Honored Pro Football Hall of Famer Len Dawson is being honored again in Canton, Ohio, as this year’s recipient of the Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. The former Kansas City quarterback has served as a color commentator for the Chiefs Radio Network since 1982. He was an analyst for NBC from 1976-82 and hosted HBO’s “Inside the NFL” from 1977-2001. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987.