State bill proposes athletes paid by colleges

A California lawmaker introduced a bill Thursday that would require schools that play major college sports to pay some athletes as much as $25,000 annually, along with covering the cost of six-year guaranteed athletic scholarships and post-college medical expenses.

The College Athlete Protection Act is sponsored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, who is a former San Diego State basketball player, and is the type of state-level legislation that the NCAA is looking to federal lawmakers to preempt.

“I know how close you can come to an injury taking away not only the game you love to play but also your opportunity to finish college,” Holden said at a news conference outside the Rose Bowl.

Notre Dame’s winningest men’s basketball coach, Mike Brey, will step down at the end of his school-record 23rd season, school officials announced . ... Longtime NFL defensive back Patrick Surtain Sr. will join the Florida State staff as its defensive backs coach, the school announced . ... Washington Commanders assistant running backs coach Jennifer King will coach the position for the Senior Bowl. King, who became the first Black female assistant position coach in NFL history after the 2020 season, will coach the National team running backs.