Newsmakers

Hired UNLV hired BYU associate coach Dave Rice as its head basketball coach Sunday, picking him to return to the school where he was an assistant under four head coaches for 11 seasons. The move, pending the approval of the Nevada Board of Regents, came a little more than a week after Lon Kruger left UNLV following seven seasons to become Oklahoma’s new coach. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Injured Belgian media are reporting that Kim Clijsters, the world’s No. 2 ranked woman, could miss the French Open after seriously injuring her ankle while dancing. Belgian television reported on its website that the 27-year-old, the current champion at the U.S. and Australian opens, dislocated her ankle while dancing at the wedding of a nephew and could be out for six weeks. Retired New Jersey Devil’s coach Jacques Lemaire is going back into retirement. The 65-year-old Lemaire, who retired after last season, says his love of the game has not diminished but he wants to enjoy life and spend more time with his family.

Fired The Florida Panthers fired head coach Peter DeBoer after three seasons, one day after the team finished its 10th straight season without a playoff appearance. Florida’s 72 points were worst in the Eastern Conference and the third-fewest in the 30-team NHL.

• Bayern Munich has fired coach Louis van Gaal with five games remaining in the Bundesliga season. Van Gaal was to leave the club after the season, one year early, but the Bayern board announced it had fired the 59-year-old Dutchman. Rescheduled A move is afoot to reschedule a federal election debate slated for Thursday so it doesn’t conflict with the opening game of the Montreal Canadiens’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins. Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe got the ball rolling by saying there’s little doubt hockey-mad Montreal fans will choose the game over the debate. NDP Leader Jack Layton later echoed those sentiments.

Signed The New Jersey Nets signed guard Mario West for the final three games of the season. The team announced the move without disclosing contract details. West played three seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.

Controlled American investor Stan Kroenke is set to take control of Premier League club Arsenal and end the long-running uncertainty about the ownership, according to a supporters group. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust told the Associated Press that Kroenke plans to raise his holding from just under 30 percent to 62 percent, exceeding the 50 percent that gives legal control.