Ex-champion Coleman in the hospital after saving his parents from a house fire

TOLEDO, OHIO>> UFC Hall of Famer and former champion Mark Coleman was airlifted to a hospital and was “battling for his life” after saving his parents from a house fire in Ohio this week, his daughter said on Instagram.

Morgan Coleman posted that her father went into the burning house several times and was able to bring out his mother and father. Coleman said her 59-year-old father was at the hospital “battling for his life after this heroic act.”

Coleman was UFC’S first heavyweight champion in 1997 when he defeated Dan Severn. He won 16 of 26 fights over his 14-year career.

NFL

Proposed rule changes include challenges for penalties at end of halves

The Indianapolis Colts are proposing a rule change that would allow for challenges of penalty calls in the last two minutes of the half.

The NFL released a list of several rule change proposals on made by teams that included an option to run a fourth-and-20 play in lieu of an onside kick, the moving of the trade deadline and giving teams an additional challenge if they are successful on one of their first two tries.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Source: Michigan hiring RBS coach Alford away from rival Ohio State

ANN ARBOR, MICH.>> Michigan is finalizing a deal to hire running backs coach Tony Alford from rival Ohio State, a person with direct knowledge of the move told The Associated Press.

Alford would replace Mike Hart, the former Wolverines star who had been running backs coach under coach Jim Harbaugh for three seasons.

NCAA BASKETBALL Louisville fires Payne after going 12-52, saying “change is needed”

LOUISVILLE, KY.>> Louisville fired coach Kenny Payne after going 12-52 in two seasons that marked the worst consecutive finishes in the storied program’s history, saying “a change is needed” to reach expectations.

The move came a day after the Cardinals’ 94-85 first-round loss to North Carolina State in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, their eighth consecutive defeat.

Marquette’s Tyler Kolek will miss Big East Tournament

NEW YORK>> Tyler Kolek will miss 10th-ranked Marquette’s first game in the Big East Tournament as he continues to recover from an injury, coach Shaka Smart said. Kolek injured an abdominal muscle Feb. 28 and has missed the Golden Eagles’ last three games.

MLB

Bill Plummer, backup catcher to Bench on Big Red Machine teams, dies

CINCINNATI>> Bill Plummer, a reliable catcher who spent seven seasons backing up Johnny Bench during the Big Red Machine era and later served as a coach and manager in the majors and minors, has died. He was 76.

He died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack last week at home in Redding, Calif., according to family social media posts.

SOCCER

Ex-palestinian national team player dies in airstrike

RAFAH, GAZA STRIP>> The Palestinian soccer federation says former national team member Mohammed Barakat, 39, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the southern city of Khan Younis.