Fast Break

Arena football

Shackleford will return to Shock

The Spokane Shock announced Thursday that they have reached an agreement to retain head coach Adam Shackleford for the next two years.

Shackleford’s return will become official in mid-September upon signing an af2 head coach’s contract and receiving league approval.

In his first season as a head coach, Shackleford led the Shock to a 12-4 regular season record and the Western Division Championship.

This past season, Shackleford’s offense was seventh in the af2, averaging more than 54 points per game. In addition, the Shock’s defense finished seventh in the league in scoring defense, allowing only 42.2 points per game.

College basketball

Summitt files for divorce

Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, the winningest basketball coach in NCAA history, filed for divorce after nearly 27 years of marriage.

Irreconcilable differences were cited in the petition filed Wednesday in the Knoxville suburb of Maryville. She and husband R.B Summit will have been married 27 years on Aug. 23. The marriage was the first for both.

The couple has one child, Tyler, who will be 17 next month. The petition said there are no custody issues and the teenager is living with his mother. R.B. Summitt is a banker in Sevierville.

Summitt has 947 NCAA victories since she began coaching the Lady Vols in 1974. The Hall of Fame coach has led the Lady Vols to seven NCAA championships, including in April when they defeated Rutgers.

College football

Tiller: Kickoffs dangerous enough

NCAA officials expect more excitement – and perhaps more injuries – as kickoffs move back to the 30-yard line for this college football season.

The NCAA rules oversight panel’s decision in March to push the kickoff back from the 35-yard line to the NFL’s starting point was one of several offseason changes designed to keep the game moving.

Purdue coach Joe Tiller, a former assistant at Washington State, has been among the critics of moving the kickoff. He says it’s the most violent play in football, and the few extra returns won’t be worth it if injuries increase.

“So now they’re moving back five yards so we can create more g-forces as these kids are running into each other,” he said. “I’m not in favor of moving it back five yards. I think about the health and safety of the players, first and foremost.”