Hoops assistants are out on bail

Three college basketball coaches charged in a bribery scheme were each freed on $100,000 bail after initial appearances in federal court.

Chuck Person, an assistant coach at Auburn, declined to comment as he left the Manhattan courtroom. Attorney David Axelrod, representing Arizona assistant coach Emanuel Richardson, said the impact of the case on his client was devastating. And Tony Bland, an assistant at USC, declined to comment, but attorney Jeffrey Lichtman called him a good man.

Those three coaches and Lamont Evans, an assistant coach at Oklahoma State, were arrested two weeks ago, along with six other people in a massive scandal. Person and Evans have been suspended. Bland has been placed on administrative leave.

Federal authorities said the men helped to steer athletes toward schools, shoe sponsors and agents using hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes. College soccer: The Stanford women (12-1-0, 5-0-0) moved up to No. 1, switching places with UCLA, after 3-0 wins last week against Colorado and Utah. The Bruins (11-0-2, 4-0-01) fell to No. 2 after a five-week reign atop the poll after tying Arizona 2-2 and beating Arizona State 3-0.

Cal climbed two spots to No. 18 after posting blanking Colorado 1-0 and Utah 2-0. Baseball: Texas Rangers infielders Phil Gosselin and Will Middlebrooks became free agents after declining outright assignments to Triple-A Round Rock. Right-hander Paul Espino and outfielder Jared Hoying cleared waivers and were assigned outright to the Triple-A team.

Marlins CEO Derek Jeter has begun restructuring his front office by hiring a former mentor, Gary Denbo, as vice president of scouting and player development. Denbo spent the past eight seasons with the New York Yankees, the past three overseeing a farm system that ranks among the best.