Newsmakers

Diagnosed Former UCLA and UAB basketball coach Gene Bartow has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Bartow, 78, currently the president of the company that owns the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, succeeded John Wooden as UCLA’s coach in 1976 and led the Bruins to the Final Four.

Died Broadcaster Merle Harmon, who in a career spanning more than 40 years called professional and college sports for NBC and ABC, has died after a long illness. Harmon died Wednesday at Arlington Memorial Hospital. The Texas Rangers had a moment of silence before their game Wednesday in memory of Harmon, 82, who was a broadcaster for the team from 1982-89.

Finalizing Former Olympic 100-meter champion Justin Gatlin is finalizing an out-of-court agreement with the U.S. Olympic Committee, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, USA Track & Field and the International Association of Athletics Federations. Gatlin had sued those groups in federal court in Pensacola, Fla., saying his rights were violated under the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said he was discriminated against because his first of two doping violations, in 2001, was for taking prescribed medication to treat attention deficit disorder.

Selected North Carolina State has chosen Western Carolina’s Kellie Harper to replace Hall of Famer Kay Yow as the Wolfpack’s women’s basketball coach. Harper has spent the past five seasons at Western Carolina, compiling a 97-65 record. Yow died of cancer in January.

Hired Former Kentucky and New Mexico State football coach Hal Mumme has been hired at Division III McMurry of Abilene, Texas, two months after he began prostate cancer treatment. Mumme was fired from New Mexico State in December after going 11-38.

Agreed Running back Maurice Jones-Drew and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension. Jones-Drew, a second-round draft pick out of UCLA in 2006, has 6,003 all-purpose yards and 40 touchdowns in three seasons.