Newsmakers

Recovered Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters made a successful return to the tennis court after a four-month layoff by beating top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 7-6 (5) in an exhibition Thursday. In front of about 10,000 home fans at the Antwerp Sports Palace, Clijsters proved she has fully recovered from the stomach muscle injury that forced her off the tour in August. She will be leaving for Australia in two weeks and plans to defend her title in Melbourne next month.

Announced At a much-hyped and heavily attended press conference, UMass announced that Notre Dame offensive coordinator Charley Molnar is the new coach of the Minutemen. Molnar, 50, joins the program in time for its jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision next season. After serving four years at Cincinnati and the last two at Notre Dame, both under coach Brian Kelly, Molnar will take over a program that will be a member of the Mid-American Conference next season.

• Brett Favre likes retirement just fine. Favre said on his website this week that he is not coming back to the NFL, even with injuries to quarterbacks around the league. The 42-year-old Favre retired in the offseason after a 20-year career and lives in Mississippi. The three-time MVP threw for more than 71,000 yards and 500 touchdowns, winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

Hired Arizona hired Rod Smith as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and appointed Mike Parrish as director of football operations. Smith played quarterback under new Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez at Glenville State from 1993-96 and worked for him at West Virginia and Michigan.

Resigned Montana State volleyball coach Sara Schaub resigned after four seasons. Over the past four years, MSU’s volleyball team has posted a 22-88 overall mark. This year the team was 6-23 overall and 4-12 in Big Sky Conference play.

Revealed Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby did not suffer a concussion after taking his latest big hit and should skate again by today. Crosby sat out Thursday’s game against Philadelphia and will skip Saturday’s game against the Islanders. He will miss the games as a precaution following a collision with teammate Chris Kunitz in Monday’s loss to Boston.