COLLEGE FOOTBALL UCLA picks Dorrell, a black, to be coach
Karl Dorrell, who played wide receiver for the Bruins, becomes the fourth black coach in Division I.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES -- UCLA, passing over a pair of more experienced candidates, chose one of its own as the Bruins' 15th football coach.
Karl Dorrell, who played wide receiver for the Bruins in the 1980s, was hired by his alma mater Wednesday night, becoming the fourth black coach in Division I.
In his third year as wide receivers coach for the Denver Broncos, Dorrell succeeds Bob Toledo, who was fired nine days earlier.
"I believe that Karl is the man who can build UCLA football to the elite level and we are excited to begin that process," athletic director Dan Guerrero said. "I know our alumni and fans will rally in support of Karl and our program."
Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Mike Price brushed off the daunting expectations of the Alabama program and even the NCAA sanctions that will make those standards harder to meet.
The Crimson Tide pulled out all the stops to court Price to lead its football program -- down to the famous former quarterback who escorted him into his introductory news conference.
"This was the opportunity of a lifetime," the energetic Price said. "This is a dream. I'm pinching myself. I feel like I'm in football heaven. To walk down the aisle into a press conference with Joe Namath is an unbelievable experience."
Price, 56, agreed to a seven-year contract after 14 years running the Washington State program. He also came in knowing the difficulties that scholarship limitations will create.
"This did not bother Mike," athletic director Mal Moore said.
Price didn't express a desire to be the next Bear Bryant -- just the next-best thing.
"I want to be the second-best coach in the history of Alabama football," he said. "If I could do that, I think that would be wonderful."
Longtime defensive coordinator Bill Doba was hired Wednesday to replace Price at Washington State.
The 62-year-old Doba has never been a college head coach. He was the last remaining member of the original staff Price hired when he arrived at Washington State in 1989.
Ball State
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Brady Hoke, a four-year letter winner at Ball State, was picked as the school's football coach Wednesday.
Hoke played for the Cardinals from 1977-80 and was captain of the 1980 team.
For the last eight seasons, Hoke has worked at Michigan. This season, he served as associate head coach and defensive line coach, helping the Wolverines to a 9-3 record and a berth in the Outback Bowl. Hoke has also been an assistant at Oregon, Toledo, Western Michigan and Grand Valley State.
Tulsa
TULSA, Okla. -- Tulsa hired Buffalo Bills assistant Steve Kragthorpe as its coach.
Kragthorpe will replace Keith Burns, who resigned under pressure Dec. 2 after winning just two games in the last two seasons.
The 37-year-old Kragthorpe has coached Buffalo's quarterbacks for two seasons. He also has been the offensive coordinator at Texas A & amp;M, North Texas and Northern Arizona. He played quarterback at Eastern New Mexico and West Texas A & amp;M.
Rutgers
PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Rutgers coach Greg Schiano received a contract extension through the 2007 season on Wednesday following a year in which his team went 1-11. Schiano has not won a Big East Conference game since becoming coach two seasons ago.