STORRS, Conn. — University of Connecticut president Susan Herbst confirmed that she has initiated an evaluation of the school’s athletic department, amid a report that she’s trying to buy out the contract of athletic director Jeff Hathaway.
Herbst, who became UConn’s president in June, did not address a story by The Day of New London, which reported school and athletic department sources said she’s working on a deal that would have Hathaway leave UConn in the next several weeks.
Hathaway has overseen a period of success among UConn’s sports teams, highlighted in 2004 when the school’s men’s and women’s basketball teams won national championships. This past academic year, the men’s team won its third NCAA title, the women’s basketball team reached the Final Four, the Huskies football team earned a Fiesta Bowl bid and the baseball team made it to an NCAA super regional.
But Hathaway has come under fire recently after sanctions against the men’s basketball team for NCAA violations, declining academic scores among male basketball players and a drop-off in donations.
• Oregon State athletic director Bob De Carolis, 58, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He plans to fulfill his contract that keeps him with the Beavers through June 2016.
Vollmer gives U.S. gold
SHANGHAI — Dana Vollmer earned the United States its first gold medal in pool swimming at the world championships, catching Australia’s Alicia Coutts in the final 20 meters to win the 100-meter butterfly. Vollmer finished in 56.87 seconds. Coutts, who was nearly a half-second under the world record after 50 meters, finished second in 56.94.
Michael Phelps got through the preliminaries of the 200-meter butterfly today, conserving energy in 1 minute, 56.77 seconds, putting him 11th among the 16 swimmers who reached the semifinals.
Allison Schmitt of the United States was the fastest qualifier in the 200 freestyle at 1:56.66.
• The Iranian swimmer who withdrew from a heat featuring an Israeli said the move was not political and that he was tired from traveling. Mohammed Alirezaei also pulled out of an event at the Beijing Olympics, citing illness.
Six named to MLS all-star team
CARSON, Calif. — Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Juninho was one of six players named to the MLS all-star team that will take on English Premier League champion Manchester United on Wednesday. The other players are Seattle midfielder Osvaldo Alonso, D.C. United midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, Vancouver forward Eric Hassli, New York midfielder Joel Lindpere and goalie Nick Rimando of Real Salt Lake.
Footnotes.
The Detroit Red Wings have called a news conference today with Kris Draper amid reports that the veteran forward will retire.
• The New York Rangers re-signed defenseman Steve Eminger, who had two goals and four assists 65 games with the Rangers last season.
• Taylor Hoagland hit a two-run home run and the United States beat Japan 6-4 to win its fifth straight World Cup of Softball title in Oklahoma City.
• Columbus, Ohio, police say former University of Kentucky basketball player Desmond Allison was shot multiple times and killed and another man was wounded outside an apartment complex.
• Sergio Batista was dismissed as Argentina’s coach after a disastrous Copa America.
The Associated Press
