Arians promises disciplined, physical, fast team
Arians promises disciplined, physical, fast team
TEMPE, Ariz. — After nearly 38 years in the business, at age 60, Bruce Arians finally is an NFL head coach.
And he’s made it clear that he’s ready to run with it.
Arians was introduced as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, promising to build a team that’s “smart, disciplined, fast and physical — accountable, no excuses.”
And Arians moved quickly, saying he wants a staff assembled by Sunday. He parted ways with popular Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton, who in a matter of hours was named to the same position in Cleveland.
Arians will call the offensive plays himself, although he will bring in someone with the title of offensive coordinator.
Jaguars formally introduce Bradley as head coach
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars have introduced new head coach Gus Bradley, giving the franchise a fresh start with a high-energy guy.
Bradley spent the last four years as Seattle’s defensive coordinator, earning a reputation as a fiery assistant who demanded — and often got — the most from his players. His defense improved each of the last three years and finished in the top 10 in points and yards the last two.
Staggering Suns ‘part
ways’ with coach Gentry
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns say the team and coach Alvin Gentry have “mutually agreed to part ways.”
Gentry had coached the Suns since replacing the fired Terry Porter at the All-Star break of the 2008-09 season, compiling a 158-144 record. His 2010 squad, led by Steve Nash, went 54-28 and advanced to the Western Conference finals.
But Nash left and the team underwent what has been a disastrous rebuilding effort. The Suns have lost 13 of 15 and four straight at home. Their 98-94 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday night snapped the Bucks’ 24-game losing streak in Phoenix.
The Suns’ 13-28 record is the worst in the Western Conference and fourth-worst in the NBA. Only Cleveland, Charlotte and Washington are worse.
Gussie Moran dies; skirt scandalized ’49 Wimbledon
LOS ANGELES — Gertrude “Gussie” Moran, who shocked the modest midcentury tennis world when she took the court at Wimbledon with short skirt and ruffled underwear, has died at age 89.
Moran had recently returned from a long hospital stay with colon cancer when she died Wednesday night in her small apartment in Los Angeles, said Jack Neworth, a tennis writer who befriended Moran in her final year.
As a 25-year-old seventh seed at Wimbledon in 1949, Moran made jaws drop and flashbulbs pop at the usually staid All-England Club in London when she showed up for her first match minus the knee-length skirt considered proper for women at the time.
She lost the match, but her striking fashion statement appeared on magazine covers around the world, the British press dubbing her “Gorgeous Gussie.”
Moran was ranked as high as fourth in the United States, would be a doubles finalist at Wimbledon and reach the singles semifinals at the U.S. Open, but would always struggle to be known for more than the skirt and the “Gorgeous Gussie” moniker she got from the British press.
New Georgia Tech AD says he’s committed to ACC
ATLANTA — New Georgia Tech athletic director Mike Bobinski said he’s fully committed to the Atlantic Coast Conference and doesn’t think coming from a nonfootball school will limit his effectiveness in leading the Yellow Jackets program.
Bobinski was introduced at Georgia Tech during a Friday news conference, two days after the school announced his hiring. He spent 12 years as Xavier’s athletic director and will officially take over April 1.
Bobinski said he’s followed football closely and knows it’s the major force driving conference realignment. Georgia Tech has been mentioned as a possible candidate to move to the Big Ten.
Bobinski said he’ll focus on making the ACC a stronger conference, especially in football.
Beamer overhauls Hokies’ offensive coaching staff
Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer overhauled his offensive coaching staff.
He announced Friday that he’s hired Scot Loeffler as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Jeff Grimes as his offensive line coach and Aaron Moorehead to coach wide receivers. The three fill vacancies created when Mike O’Cain was fired as quarterbacks coach, wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman took the same position at Purdue and Curt Newsome left the program.
Loeffler was the offensive coordinator at Auburn last year and has held the same position at Temple.
Beamer said Bryan Stinespring, an assistant on his staff for 20 seasons — the last 11 as the Hokies’ offensive coordinator — has been moved to recruiting coordinator.
By wire sources