Fast Break
College football
UW hires Donatell as defensive boss
The Washington Huskies have chosen former University of Idaho and NFL assistant Ed Donatell as their defensive coordinator.
Coach Tyrone Willingham made the announcement Thursday. Donatell replaces Kent Baer, a 13-year assistant of Willingham’s who was fired last month. He receives a two-year contract with an annual compensation package of $334,000 running through June 2010.
Donatell, 50, has spent 12 of the last 13 seasons as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator in the NFL, most recently as defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-06. Donatell’s second coaching job was as a graduate assistant in 1981-82 under former Huskies coach Don James.
Washington’s defense this season gave up 446.4 yards per game, easily the worst in Huskies history. The defense was largely responsible for many of the team’s meltdowns in the second half of games en route to a 4-9 record.
Baseball
Wilkerson added to M’s outfield
Brad Wilkerson and the Mariners agreed to a $3 million, one-year contract, a move that could signal Seattle is close to acquiring pitcher Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles.
Wilkerson can play all three outfield positions plus first base, and the Mariners have discussed trading outfielder Adam Jones to Baltimore along with others for Bedard.
Jones, a top prospect, had been slated to be the Mariners’ starting right fielder this season, replacing the departed Jose Guillen.
Wilkerson could make an additional $2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances: $50,000 each for 325, 350, 375 and 400; $100,000 each for 425 and 450; and $200,000 each for 475 and each additional 25 through 650.
Figure skating
Nationals draw big TV audience
The U.S. Figure Skating Championships drew the most viewers in five years.
Last weekend’s coverage on NBC attracted 12.5 million viewers, up from 4.7 million on ABC and ESPN2 last year.
NBC and U.S. Figure Skating are in the first year of a new contract. NBC broadcast seven hours of the championships, the most network coverage of the event since 1998.