College Basketball
Colorado women’s coach Lappe resigns
BOULDER, Colo. – University of Colorado women’s basketball coach Linda Lappe has agreed to resign after a 7-23 season.
Athletic director Rick George said Monday she will be paid for the final three years on her contract. He called this a mutual decision and said a search for a new coach is under way.
Lappe had three years left on a contract that runs through April 30, 2019. She told the team of the change Monday.
A former player at Colorado, Lappe was 105-92 in six seasons as coach, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012-13.
College Football
Illinois hires former Bears coach as new head coach
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois says former NFL coach Lovie Smith will be named the next football coach at the University of Illinois.
Smith, who was head coach of the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was announced as coach Monday and replaces Bill Cubit. Cubit was fired Saturday after one season in charge at Illinois.
Smith coached the Buccaneers for two years and had an 8-24 overall record. He was fired in January.
The defensive-minded Smith also took the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006 where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears fired Smith after the 2012 season.
Cycling
French sprinter Demare wins opening stage
VENDOME, France – French rider Arnaud Demare produced a late sprint to clinch victory Monday in the first stage of the Paris-Nice race to claim his biggest win since his title at the national championships two years ago.
Demare was the strongest in the final stretch leading to the finish line in the streets of Vendome and won ahead Ben Swift and Nacer Bouhanni.
Michael Matthews, who won the eight-day race’s prologue on Sunday, kept the leader’s yellow jersey. The Australian rider has a three-second overall lead over Tom Dumoulin, with Patrick Bevin of New Zealand in third place four seconds off the pace.
NFL
Eagles agree to trade RB Murray to Titans
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Agents for running back DeMarco Murray confirmed the NFL’s 2014 rushing leader was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Tennessee Titans.
Skiing
Brem in command after World Cup GS race
JASNA, Slovakia – Eva-Maria Brem took another step toward her first crystal globe by winning the next-to-last giant slalom of the women’s World Cup season on Monday, and Swiss skier Lara Gut finished fourth to go to the top of the overall standings.
The Austrian skier extended her lead in the GS standings to 52 points over Viktoria Rebensburg of Germany, her only remaining challenger.
Tennis
Sharapova failed drug test; penalty unknown
LOS ANGELES – Tennis star Maria Sharapova says she has failed a drug test at the Australian Open.
A five-time major champion made the announcement at a news conference Monday in Los Angeles.
Sharapova said she tested positive for meldonium, which she has been taking for 10 years for health issues. Meldonium became a banned substance this year.
The WTA has not announced a penalty.
Associated Press
