Newsmakers

Fri., Jan. 22, 2010

From Staff And Wire Reports

Hired East Carolina hired former Texas Tech defensive coordinator, and Pirates alum, Ruffin McNeill to replace Skip Holtz, who left to become head coach at South Florida. East Carolina announced the move after members of the board of trustees approved McNeill’s hiring and an outline of a contract. The contract won’t be finalized until next month. McNeill spent 10 seasons at Texas Tech as an assistant, then served as interim coach when Mike Leach was suspended and later fired.

Ordered The judge in Mike Leac h’s lawsuit against Texas Tech has ordered the sides to try to work out a resolution. State District Judge William Sowder ordered Leach, Texas Tech and their attorneys to complete mediation by Feb. 5. He also placed gag order on the talks. The university fired Leach on Dec. 30, two days after it suspended him amid allegations he mistreated a player with a concussion.

Signed Coach Wade Phillips has a new two-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys have won two NFC East titles in three years under Phillips, and two weeks ago got their first playoff victory since 1996. While Phillips is 34-17 in Dallas, there had been speculation about his status since owner Jerry Jones had failed to pick up the 2010 option that was part of the deal Phillips got when he replaced Bill Parcells after the 2006 season. Jones repeatedly indicated he wanted Phillips back.

Fined Boston Celtics forward Glen “Big Baby” Davis has been fined $25,000 for directing inappropriate language at a fan during a game against host Detroit on Wednesday.

Returned Minnesota defenseman Brent Burns returned to the Wild against Detroit after missing 29 games because of a concussion. Burns had two goals and eight assists in his first 21 games this season. Several Wild players have missed time with concussions this season, most notably Burns and forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Bouchard has missed all but one game and likely will sit out the rest of the season.

Out Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will miss the team’s next two games after aggravating a right hamstring injury. Roy re-injured the hamstring late in the first half of Portland’s 98-90 victory at Philadelphia on Wednesday night.

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Newsmakers

Jesse Tinsley

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