Stewart, McBride exit US Soccer

The American men's national team shakeup that began after a public spat erupted between two well-known families accelerated Thursday when sporting director Earnie Stewart announced he is quitting the U.S. Soccer Federation to join PSV Eindhoven.

Men's general manager Brian McBride also is resigning, leaving coach Gregg Berhalter in limbo following the expiration of his contract on Dec. 31. Berhalter is under investigation for a 1991 domestic violence incident and Anthony Hudson, one of his assistants, led his first game as interim coach on Wednesday.

Hours later, Austin's Major League Soccer team said former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna was no longer its sporting director. The Reyna family has been embroiled in a dispute with Berhalter that became public earlier this month, several weeks after the U.S. was eliminated from the World Cup.

USSF President Cindy Parlow Cone said it likely will be many months before the coach situation is sorted out. Sportsology Group, a company that has worked with the Los Angeles Rams and several soccer teams, was hired to lead the sporting director search, review the sporting department and analyze coach candidates. The sporting director will then make the coach decision.

“We're hopeful that we can fill these two positions by the end of the summer so that the men's team has plenty of time in preparation for the World Cup in leading up to 2026,” Cone said. “Greg remains a candidate.”

Pro football

PANTHERS HIRE REICH AS NEW HEAD COACH >> The Carolina Panthers have agreed to terms with Frank Reich to become their new head coach.

The 61-year-old Reich joins the Panthers after spending the past four-plus seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, where he went 40-33-1 as head coach before being fired on Nov. 7 after a 3-5-1 start. The Colts went to the playoffs twice as a wild-card team under Reich, going 1-2 in the postseason.

Reich inherits a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2017 — and hasn't won a postseason game since winning the NFC championship in 2015 with league MVP Cam Newton at quarterback.

JETS HIRE FORMER BRONCOS COACH HACKETT TO RUN OFFENSE >> The New York Jets have hired former Denver Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator.

The 43-year-old Hackett replaces Mike LaFleur after coach Robert Saleh and the Jets interviewed at least 15 candidates for the vacancy. NFL EXTENDS PLAYERS COALITION PARTNERSHIP WITH $15M GRANT >> The NFL is expanding its partnership with the Players Coalition to address issues of racial and social justice with a five-year extension and a $15 million grant through its Inspire

Change initiative.

The agreement comes as the league and its teams say they have surpassed a $250 million commitment to combat systemic racism. The NFL says that goal was reached four years ahead of schedule.

COWBOYS MOVE ON FROM 6 MCCARTHY ASSISTANTS ON EXPIRING DEALS >>

The Dallas Cowboys are not renewing the contracts of six members of coach Mike McCarthy's staff, including senior assistants Rob Davis and George Edwards.

The club announced the moves four days after a 1912 loss to San Francisco that extended Dallas' losing streak in the divisional round to seven games, the longest since the 1970 merger.

PATRIOTS ANNOUNCE HIRING OF O'BRIEN AS NEW OC >>

Bill O'Brien is back with the New England Patriots.

The team announced that O'Brien was hired as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The team ranked in the bottom half of the league in several categories and last in the NFL in red zone touchdowns.

Golf

REED FARES BETTER THAN MCILROY AFTER DELAYED START IN DUBAI >>

Patrick Reed fared better than Rory McIlroy after some pre-tournament friction as the Dubai Desert Classic got off to a wet start with only 11 players managing to finish their weather-affected first rounds.

Play only began at the European tour event after a delay of six hours caused by heavy overnight rain that left the course unplayable at Emirates Golf Club.

By the time the siren sounded to suspend play because of fading light, Reed was 4 under par after 16 holes and top-ranked McIlroy was 2 under having played 15 holes.

Thomas Pieters was leading on 5 under, though he also had three holes to play. Three English players — Matthew Jordan, Daniel Gavins and Oliver Wilson — held the clubhouse lead after shooting rounds of 4-under 68.

Olympics

RUSSIA'S PATH TO 2024 GAMES TAKES SHAPE >> Russia's path to sending a team to the Paris Olympics next year became clearer amid fierce objections from Ukraine.

The International Olympic Committee indicated on Wednesday it favors officially neutral teams from Russia and its ally Belarus at the 2024 Olympics despite a plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to exclude them entirely.

A day later, Russia and Belarus were invited to compete at the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier.

Russia typically competes as part of Europe but has a tense relationship with many of the countries set to host qualifying events there. Russia and Belarus have been barred from almost all international competitions in Olympic sports following the invasion of Ukraine.