UNC tailback to enter draft

North Carolina tailback Gio Bernard is eager to make his early jump to the NFL.

The sophomore announced Friday he would enter next spring’s draft after a big year in which he ranked among the nation’s top rushers and punt returners to earn All-America honors.

The 5-foot-10, 205pound tailback led the ACC in rushing, scoring, all-purpose yards and punt-return average. He was a first-team All-ACC selection the past two years, and was a third team All-American by The Associated Press earlier this week.

Louisiana Tech: Skip Holtz was named the new coach, replacing Sonny Dykes, who left to accept the job at California last week.

Holtz, 48, is the son of Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz. The younger Holtz most recently coached at South Florida, which fired him this month following a 3-9 finish. He was 16-21 in three seasons at USF and is 88-71 overall in 13 seasons.

Temple: The school made an offer to New York Giants assistant Matt Rhule to become its new coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Rhule was one of the final two candidates for the job. The person said Miami defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio withdrew from consideration.

The Owls are in the market for their third coach in four seasons following Steve Addazio’s departure to Boston College last week.

Appalachian State: Interim coach Scott Satterfield was given the permanent job, replacing Jerry Moore.

Satterfield has spent 17 of the past 22 years at the school as either a player or assistant. He was a quarterback for the Mountaineers from 199295 and served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this season.

NAIA: Michael Josifovski and the Marian Knights spoiled Morningside’s perfect season.

Josifovski hit a 35yard field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime and hit a 26-yarder in the extra session to give Marian (Ind.) a 30-27 victory in the championship game Thursday night in Rome.

Marian (12-1) won its first national title in only its sixth season of football, while Morningside (13-1) fell short in the Iowa school’s first title game and ninth straight trip to playoffs.

Texas Tech: Kliff Kingsbury is finally back where it feels like home.

Kingsbury was formally introduced as the new head coach at Texas Tech, where he starred as the quarterback of some of Mike Leach’s high-flying offenses. The former offensive coordinator at Houston and, most recently, Texas A&M, said those jobs were purely business.

“But being here now, this is personal to me,” Kingsbury said. “This is where I want to be. This is a place that’s helped shape me as a man.”