Fast Break

Colleges

Huskies’ A.D. calls it quits

Washington athletic director Todd Turner resigned Tuesday, nearly four years after he was hired to straighten out a department thrown into disarray by scandals.

The resignation takes effect Jan. 31. Turner was in the middle of a five-year contract worth $325,000 in base salary and up to $420,000 annually with incentives.

Scott Woodward, Washington’s vice president for external affairs, will become acting athletic director when Turner leaves, university president Mark Emmert said.

“After conferring with President Emmert over the last few weeks, it was determined that a change in leadership in the athletics program would be in the best interests of the university,” Turner said in a statement.

The resignation comes six days after the school retained football coach Tyrone Willingham following a 4-9 season. Emmert said Turner’s resignation had nothing to do with Willingham staying. He said there was a lack of general “fit” between Turner and what the athletic department hopes to accomplish.

Turner had been having problems raising money to renovate Husky Stadium.

Junior Hockey

Ulmer helps Austria to win

Spokane Chiefs import defenseman Stefan Ulmer scored on a feed from brother Martin Ulmer and Team Austria improved to 2-0 on Monday at the World U-20 Division IA Championship in Bad Tolz, Germany.

The Austrians play today against Ukraine (0-2).

The Chiefs (24-5-1-2), who will be without Ulmer until after the holiday break, host the Portland Winter Hawks tonight at the Arena at 7.

Football

Petrino takes jump to Arkansas

Bobby Petrino was hired as the football coach at Arkansas, capping a whirlwind day in which he resigned from the Atlanta Falcons after 13 games.

Petrino was hired to succeed Houston Nutt, who stepped down at Arkansas two weeks ago and became the head coach at Mississippi.

Petrino was introduced as the 30th Razorbacks coach by incoming athletic director Jeff Long at a late-night news conference.

In January, Petrino left as head coach at Louisville to take over in Atlanta.

Football

Namath will get his degree

Joe Namath will graduate from Alabama on Saturday, more than four decades after finishing his college career.

Namath worked toward his bachelor’s degree for the past five years through Alabama’s External Degree program.

Namath, who left Alabama in 1965 some 15 credits shy of his degree, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 20 years later.