Stanford coach Tucker is retiring
Assistant women’s basketball coach just finished 32nd season
Longtime Stanford associate head coach Amy Tucker is retiring from coaching but will remain with the program in an administrative role.
Tucker shared the news Wednesday night that she is calling it a career to her time on the bench, writing, “It has been a great journey and I have loved it.”
Tucker just completed her 32nd season on The Farm under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer and Stanford reached the Final Four before losing in the semifinals to eventual champion South Carolina.
She coached the Cardinal during VanDerveer’s season away leading the 1986 gold medal-winning U.S. team in the lead up to the Atlanta Olympics.
Kate Paye, VanDerveer’s second associate head coach after being promoted to that position before last season, is staying put after being considered for other openings at Washington and USC. She is believed to be VanDerveer’s successor one day.
Oregon junior forward n Dillon Brooks says he is entering the NBA draft. The Pac-12 Player of the Year has hired an agent, which ends his eligibility with the Ducks.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit n solidified his college choice when swingman Michael Porter Jr. signed a financial aid agreement to play for new coach (and former Cal coach) Cuonzo Martin at Missouri.
Wake Forest big man n John Collins is staying in the NBA draft.
NFL
It’s been more than a year since the NFL approved the Rams’ relocation from St. Louis to Los Angeles. And now St. Louis wants payback. The city and county of St. Louis and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority (RSA) filed a 52-page lawsuit against the NFL and its 32 teams seeking damages and restitution of profits over the loss of the Rams.
“There is no legitimate basis for this litigation,” an NFL spokesman said.
The Rams have exercised n their fifth-year option on All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
College football
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has hired former Tigers offensive coordinator Al Borges as an analyst. Borges spent four seasons as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. He has also run offenses at Cal, UCLA, Michigan and San Diego State. Borges spent the past two seasons as San Jose State’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Tennessee senior associate n athletic director Mike Vollmar has resigned. Vollmar was responsible for oversight of the Volunteers’ football program as part of the athletics executive staff.
Soccer
Didier Drogba, one of the most decorated players of his generation, has signed with Phoenix Rising FC of the United Soccer League.
Motor sports
Two-time Formula One champion Fernando Alonso announced that he will race for McLaren at the Indianapolis 500 next month in a surprise switch that means the Spanish driver miss the Monaco Grand Prix on the same day.
Tennis
Seeded players Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano Lopez and Thomaz Bellucci won in the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, while American Donald Young was beaten. Young, seeded seventh, lost to Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-3, 6-4 in the round of 32.