Jedd Fisch, New England’s QBs coach, named coach at University of Arizona.

FOOTBALL

Arizona hires NFL assistant

Arizona has hired New England Patriots assistant Jedd Fisch as its head coach. The school announced Wednesday that Fisch will replace Kevin Sumlin, who was fired earlier this month after the Wildcats finished the season winless. The 44-year-old arrives in the desert after bouncing between college football and the NFL. Fisch was hired as New England’s quarterbacks coach under Bill Belichick earlier this year after two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams as senior offensive assistant and assistant offensive coordinator. He previously served as offensive coordinator at Jacksonville and served as an assistant with Seattle, Denver, Baltimore and Houston. Fisch spent the 2017 season as UCLA’s offensive coordinator and served as interim coach the final two games after Jim Mora was fired. He also served as the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach under Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh, and had offensive coordinator stints with Miami and Minnesota.

Bowden now in Sun Belt

Former Auburn coach Terry Bowden has been hired by Louisiana-Monroe to rebuild a program that went 0-10 this season. Bowden, the son of former Florida State coaching great Bobby Bowden, has been serving as a graduate assistant at Clemson the past two years. Terry Bowden, 64, had a successful stint as Auburn’s head coach from 1993-98, going 47-17. That came to a tumultuous end with a midseason firing. After a long run in broadcasting, he returned to coaching in 2009 with Division II North Alabama. Bowden was back in Division I with Akron, leading the Zips from 2012-18 and going 35-52 with two bowl appearances. Earlier this month, Louisiana-Monroe fired Matt Viator after five seasons. He went 19-39 and 15-24 in the Sun Belt Conference.

Tulsa LB wins Nagurski

Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy honoring the nation’s best defensive player. The 6-4, 260-pound Collins totaled 54 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 4 interceptions. The junior had three sacks against Oklahoma State. Two of his interceptions were game-clinchers — a late one against SMU and a 96-yard return for a touchdown against Tulane in overtime. Collins is from Hominy, Okla., and played for small Hominy High School. Tulsa gave him his only Division I scholarship offer. The other finalists were Coastal Carolina defensive end Tarron Jackson, Iowa defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon, Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II.

Jets’ DL Williams on IR

New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams is headed to injured reserve, ending his breakout second NFL season. Coach Adam Gase said Wednesday that Williams remains in the concussion protocol after leaving the team’s first victory of the season Sunday at Los Angeles against the Rams. Williams also is dealing with a neck injury, which is what will land him on IR. Gase said Williams would need to clear the concussion protocol before the team officially places him on IR. Williams has a team-leading 7 sacks, 14 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss while rating as one of the NFL’s top interior defensive linemen this season. The No. 3 overall draft pick last year out of Alabama has 55 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 3 passes defensed.

QB Haskins fined

Dwayne Haskins was handed a hefty fine Wednesday for partying with several people not wearing a mask but will start at quarterback for Washington on Sunday against Carolina if Alex Smith isn’t healthy enough to go. The organization fined Haskins $40,000 for violating covid-19 protocols, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the fine. Haskins apologized to teammates, took the first-team snaps in practice, and is in line to play against the Panthers if needed with the NFC East title potentially at stake — as long as he doesn’t test positive for the virus this week. He apologized publicly Tuesday for his actions after photos showing him without a mask around several other people surfaced on social media.

No Gordon return yet

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon will not make his debut this week after he was placed back on the commissioner’s exempt list. Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday he was not at liberty to comment on Gordon’s situation. But the Seahawks went from expecting Gordon to possibly play this week against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday to two days later knowing he’ll be unavailable. The oft-suspended Gordon was conditionally reinstated by Commissioner Roger Goodell on Dec. 3 and was allowed to begin strength and conditioning work with the Seahawks staff and attend meetings. Seattle added him to the active roster on Monday, but the change to Gordon’s status was on the NFL’s official transactions Tuesday. Carroll said Gordon was “frustrated” with the latest news and will remain on the roster. Gordon was suspended in December 2019 for violating the league’s drug policy. It was the eighth time overall Gordon had been suspended by either his team or the NFL.

BASEBALL Dodgers sign ex-Yankee

The Los Angeles Dodgers and right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle agreed to a $4.75 million, two-year deal, according to a person familiar with the contract. Kahnle can earn up to $500,000 in performance bonuses. Kahnle threw just one inning for the New York Yankees in 2020 before having season-ending Tommy John surgery in August, and the 31-yearold is unlikely to pitch next season. Los Angeles is hoping he can return to form in 2022. Kahnle had a 3.67 ERA in 72 games for New York in 2019, striking out 88 in 611/ innings.

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Red Sox pick up Andriese

The Boston Red Sox signed right-hander Matt Andriese to a $2.1 million, one-year deal to bolster the back end of their starting rotation. Chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom announced the agreement Wednesday. Andriese will earn a $1.85 million salary for 2021 and has a $3.5 million club option for 2022 with a $250,000 buyout. Andriese could earn up to $7.6 million over two seasons. The 31-year-old Andriese made one start and 15 relief appearances for the Los Angeles Angels in 2020, posting a 4.50 ERA. Andriese has been a starter and reliever throughout his career, including during four seasons with Tampa Bay.

HOCKEY Kucherov out for season

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov is expected to miss the entire regular season because of a hip injury that requires surgery. General Manager Julien BriseBois ruled out Kucherov on Wednesday for the 56-game season that begins Jan. 13 and ends May 8. Kucherov played through a groin injury in the playoffs on the way to helping the Lightning win the Stanley Cup in late September. He complained of the hip problem in early December. Losing the 2019 NHL MVP and leading scorer from the 2020 playoffs is a major blow to the defending champions. Kucherov, 27, had a postseason-best 34 points on 7 goals and 27 assists in the NHL bubbles in Toronto and Edmonton, Alberta. He led the league in scoring with 128 points in the 2018-19 season to earn Hart Trophy honors.

Ex-NBA coach joins Georgia

Former Detroit Pistons and Florida Atlantic coach Michael Curry has joined Georgia Coach Tom Crean’s staff. Crean on Wednesday named Curry, who played in the NBA for 11 seasons, as the Bulldogs’ player development assistant. Crean also added Tim Dather as director of basketball strategy. Curry, 52, was 39-43 as the Pistons coach in 2008-09. He was 39-84 at Florida Atlantic from 2014-18. Curry also held executive positions with the NBA Players Association and the NBA. Curry and Dather fill an opening on Georgia’s staff left when Dice Yoshimoto accepted a position with the New York Knicks.