New NU AD Polisky steps down amid mounting criticism
Mike Polisky resigned as Northwestern’s athletic director Wednesday amid mounting criticism following his promotion last week to replace Jim Phillips.
Polisky said in a statement he is stepping down as AD and leaving the school after 11 years because “current challenges will not allow me to effectively lead our department” and he does not want to be a “distraction.”
He is one of four defendants along with the university in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed in January by a former NU cheerleader who said she was groped by drunken fans and alumni at school-sanctioned events and administrators tried to cover up her complaints.
President Morton Schapiro announced linguistics professor Robert Gundlach will serve as interim AD. Gundlach is Northwestern’s faculty athletics representative to the NCAA and Big Ten.
HOCKEY Wolves clinch division title
David Cotton recorded his first hat trick and rookie goaltender Beck Warm stopped 35 shots as the Wolves clinched their fourth division title in five years with a 7-0 victory against the host Grand Rapids Griffins. Sean Malone, Sheldon Rempal, Max Lajoie and Frederic Allard also had goals for the Wolves (20-8-1-2). The Wolves have two regular-season games remaining.
† The Rangers fired coach David Quinn and three assistant coaches after missing the playoffs with one of the NHL’s up-andcoming young teams.
† The expansion Kraken signed the first player in franchise history after agreeing to terms with free-agent center Luke Henman on a three-year entry level contract.
NBA Harden returns after 18-game absence
James Harden had 18 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in his return from an 18-game absence from a strained right hamstring to help the Nets beat the Spurs 128-116.
† The Cavaliers snapped an 11-game losing streak with a 102-94 victory in their home finale, locking the Celtics into a spot in the NBA’s play-in tournament.
† The Pistons agreed to a contract extension with coach Dwane Casey through the 2023-24 season.
† Heat guard Victor Oladipo has opted to have season-ending surgery on his right quadriceps tendon.
† Two Los Angeles County firefighters could be fired after some first responders took and shared graphic photos from the site of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his teenage daughter and seven others.