Colonials AD will resign

RMU athletic director Dr. Craig Coleman announced he will step down.

After 13 years as Robert Morris athletic director, Craig Coleman will step down, effective Dec. 7, the university announced Monday.

Before coming to Robert Morris in 2005, Coleman was an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine — he plans on returning to medicine, he said in a statement.

“After a 13-year hiatus, I’ve decided to return to my previous career in medicine,” said Coleman, who also was the softball coach at Robert Morris. “I’m extremely grateful to the university for the opportunity to have served the athletic department as athletic director and coach.”

Senior associate athletic director Marty Galosi has been named acting athletic director, and the university will conduct a search to find a permanent replacement. Jexx Verner, assistant softball coach, will be the interim softball coach.

RMU Division I sports claimed 24 regular-season titles during Coleman’s tenure, according to a release.

Tennis

Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic made an impressive start to his campaign for a sixth title at the ATP Finals in London by dismissing John Isner, 6-4, 6-3. Isner, who at 33 became the season-ending tournament’s oldest debutant since 1972, applied himself admirably but barely avoided being broken more than once in the first set, and was broken twice more in the second set. Alexander Zverev came from a break down in both sets to defeat Marin Cilic, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (1), in the early match.

Soccer

Jonathan Klinsmann, son of former American coach Jurgen Klinsmann, was added to the U.S. roster for exhibitions against England and Italy and could make his national team debut. Klinsmann, 21, left Cal Berkeley to sign with Hertha Berlin before the 2017-18 season. He made his debut 11 months ago in a Europa League match against Oestersunds. The U.S. plays England Thursday in London and Italy Nov. 20 at Genk, Belgium, in likely the final matches under interim coach Dave Sarachan.

Auto racing

David Pearson, a NASCAR pioneer and rival of Richard Petty, died Monday of undisclosed causes. He was 83. Pearson was a three-time Cup champion and his 105 career victories trail only Petty’s 200 on NASCAR’s all-time list.