Off the wire

BASKETBALL

Dickey resigns at Houston

Houston men’s Coach James Dickey (Valley Springs) said he is stepping down after four seasons with the Cougars because of “a family matter that requires my time and energy.” Dickey just completed the fourth season of a five-year contract with Houston. He coached Texas Tech in 1991-2001, and replaced Tom Penders at Houston in 2010. Dickey has a career record of 217-196. He said in a statement it was a difficult decision, but did not give details as to why. The Cougars went 17-16 this season with an 8-10 record in the American Athletic Conference. They also beat three Top 25 teams. The Cougars’ only postseason appearance under Dickey came in 2013 in the CBI. Athletic Director Mark Rhoades said Dickey’s “decision to step down comes with great heartache for all involved.” Dickey played at Valley Springs and Central Arkansas before getting into coaching in 1976 at Harding Academy in Searcy as an assistant. He was the head coach at Harding Academy in 1977-1979, but returned to UCA in 1979 to serve as an assistant for two seasons. Dickey then spent four seasons (1981-1985) at Arkansas under Eddie Sutton. He followed Sutton to Kentucky, where he coached in 1985-1989.

New South Dakota Coach Craig Smith says he’s looking forward to taking the program to the top of the Summit League, and soon. “We expect to get in the NCAA tournament next year,” Smith said after his introduction at a news conference Monday. Smith, a Stephen, Minn., native and North Dakota alum, has been a longtime assistant for Nebraska Coach Tim Miles. Smith coached with Miles at Mayville State, North Dakota State and Colorado State. He also has served as an assistant at Northern State in South Dakota and Minot State in North Dakota. Smith said it was hard to leave Miles at Nebraska because of all he had done, but he’s pleased with the level of players at South Dakota and plans to help them become better decision makers. Smith was the head coach at Mayville State in North Dakota in 2004-2007. He won NAIA coach of the year honors in 2007 after leading the Comets to the NAIA Division II national championship game. Smith replaces Dave Boots, who retired last September after 25 years. Boots was the most successful coach in program history, with a 503-235 record. The Coyotes went 12-18 this season under interim coach Joey James.

Bowling Green has hired Wichita State assistant Chris Jans as its new head coach, replacing the fired Louis Orr. Jans has been Wichita State’s associate head coach since 2011-2012. He helped guide the Shockers to three consecutive NCAA appearances and to an unbeaten record and No. 2 ranking this season before a loss to Kentucky on Sunday. He spent seven years at WSU. Orr was fired March 11 after seven years. The Falcons went 12-20 this season.

FOOTBALL Goodell, union to meet

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL will meet on April 8 with the players union to discuss improving the workplace environment. In the wake of the Miami Dolphins bullying scandal, league representatives have met with some 40 players in the last three months, as well as with the Dolphins and outside organizations, Goodell said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. The league is trying to get “as much input as possible. It’s more about people understanding the importance of a proper workplace.” Goodell added the focus is on medical evaluations of the players involved, including tackle Jonathan Martin, who left the Dolphins in the middle of last season, saying he was harassed by guard Richie Incognito. Martin was traded to the San Francisco 49ers earlier this month. An NFL investigation determined Incognito and two other Miami Dolphins offensive linemen engaged in persistent harassment of Martin. Incognito was then suspended and missed the final eight games last season, and he became a free agent when his contract with the Dolphins expired. On Monday, Incognito made a peace offering to Martin via Twitter. Incognito posted: “Call me on my cell phone. Love you brother. S*** got crazy but we held it together,” with the hash tags of CALLME and FAMILY. And in another tweet to Martin: “No hard feelings. Let’s just move on :)” Goodell noted that improving the workplace environment involves “a culture change.” He did not address what discipline any of the players face from the league for the bullying. “What we need to do is make sure we have a workplace we are all proud of. This will be an important meeting with the players,” Goodell said. League owners will address a myriad of potential rules changes and bylaws adjustments this week, but only approved one item Monday: a one-year extension of the Raiders’ stadium lease in Oakland.Earlier in the day, Raiders owner Mark Davis reiterated, “We’re trying to get something done in Oakland” for a new home. Instant replay, as it usually does, has garnered lots of attention, with the league considering having director of officials Dean Blandino and others consult with referees on replays. Blandino believes such a process could speed up video reviews as well as ensure the calls are correct. Under the proposal, observers at the central officiating site could begin discussing the play even as the referee is consulting with the coach making a challenge.

The Cleveland Browns agreed to a contract Monday with free agent Paul McQuistan, who started 14 games last season for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.Terms of the deal were not immediately available. McQuistan, 30, who was in Cleveland for a visit last week, was previously with the Browns as a backup in 2010. The lineman may slide into the open spot at right guard after the Browns lost starter Shawn Lauvao in free agency to Washington. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound McQuistan played nine games at left tackle and five at left guard for Seattle last season.

GOLF

Woods’ status uncertain

Tiger Woods is not sure whether his ailing back will allow him to play in the Masters, which is two weeks away. The Masters is the only major tournament Woods, 38, has never missed. Four of his 14 major championships came at Augusta National, including his first in 1997. He last won the green jacket in 2005. This year’s Masters is April 10-13. Woods is off to the worst start of his 18 years on tour, and he’s been troubled lately by back problems. He stopped playing in the final round at the Honda Classic on March 2 because of what he called back spasms and pain in his lower back. He tried to defend his title the following week at Doral, only for his back to flare up again in the final round, when he shot a 78, the highest Sunday score of his PGA Tour career and his first closing round without a birdie. Then last week, Woods withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational because of persistent back pain. He first showed signs of back pain at Bethpage Black at The Barclays in 2012, which he attributed to a soft bed at his hotel. He felt twinges during the final round of the PGA Championship last year, and when his back bothered him in the final round of The Barclays two weeks later, he said it was unrelated.

TENNIS Sharapova wins

Maria Sharapova won only five points in the first four games before settling down to reach the quarterfinals at the Sony Open by beating Kirsten Flipkens 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in Key Biscayne, Fla. Serena Williams eliminated fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3, 6-1. Rafael Nadal received a warning for slow play and still won in 59 minutes against Denis Istomin, 6-1, 6-0. No. 10 seed John Isner, the only American to reach the men’s third round, hit 17 aces and beat Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-3. The lack of upsets so far means players with a total of 66 Grand Slam titles will be in action today, including Sharapova, Williams, Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.