Ex-Sixer Claxton promoted to head coach at alma mater Hofstra
French Open postponed by a week
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. » Speedy Claxton is taking over as basketball coach at Hofstra, where he starred as a point guard in the late 1990s and has served as an assistant for the past seven years.
Claxton was introduced Thursday by the Long Island-based Colonial Athletic Association school at its on-campus basketball arena, which opened during Claxton’s senior season.
“This was my dream job,” said Claxton, who pushed through tears and acknowledged fighting nerves during at his introductory news conference. “They say it’s the arena that Speedy built.”
Claxton replaces Joe Mihalich, who missed this past season after taking a medical leave of absence and then transitioned into an advisory role with the school last month. Mihalich, 64, was 141-92 in seven seasons with Hofstra.
A Hempstead native, Claxton became one of Hofstra’s greatest players. He led the team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2000, scored more than 2,000 career points and left as the program’s leader in assists and steals. That 2000 team was coached by future Villanova coach Jay Wright.
He was drafted in the first round by the Sixers in 2000, but a knee injury cost him his rookie season. He played seven seasons in the NBA for five teams.
St. Cloud State advances
PITTSBURGH » Nolan Walker scored on a redirection with 53.2 seconds left and St. Cloud State (20-10-0) held off Minnesota State (225-1) 5-4 to advance to the program’s NCAA ice hockey title game.
St. Cloud State led 3-1 early in the second period and trailed 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining before winning its 10th one-goal game of the season.
Cronin gets extension at UCLA
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LOS ANGELES » Mick Cronin has been rewarded for UCLA’s surprising run to the Final Four with a two-year contract extension.
Athletic director Martin Jarmond announced that the deal worth a guaranteed $4 million per year runs through the 202627 season.
Cronin has compiled a 41-22 record in his first two seasons. The team’s Final Four appearance in the NCAA Tournament was its first since 2008.
PARIS » For the second year in a row, the traditional French Open schedule is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The clay-court Grand Slam tennis tournament said Thursday it will push back the start of this season’s event by one week because of surging virus cases in France.
“This postponement will give us a little more time to improve the health situation and should allow us to optimize our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland Garros,” said Gilles Moretton, the president of the French tennis federation.
The French Open was scheduled to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.