Texas coach Mack Brown resigns

Texas coach Mack Brown resigns

AUSTIN, Texas

Texas says coach Mack Brown has stepped down and that the Alamo Bowl against Oregon on Dec. 30 will be his last game with the Longhorns. The school announced the move Saturday.

Brown led the Longhorns to the 2005 national championship and ranks second at the school in career victories. He’s stepping down after 16 seasons — and one tumultuous week of reports and speculation that this was coming. He is 158-47 at Texas, but 30-20 the last four seasons, including 19-17 in the Big 12.

The 62-year-old Brown was hired at Texas from North Carolina in 1997 and was credited with reviving a dormant program. Texas had a run of dominance from 2001-2009 when the Longhorns went 101-16. He is one of the highest-paid coaches in the country at $5.4 million this year.

Thornton gets 15 games for injuring Orpik

NEW YORK

Boston Bruins forward Shawn Thornton was suspended for 15 games without pay the NHL on Saturday for punching and injuring unsuspecting Pittsburgh defenseman Brooks Orpik.

Thornton went after Orpik during a stoppage in play Dec. 7, slew-footing him to the ice and punching him twice. Orpik sustained a concussion and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. Earlier, Orpik hit Boston’s Loui Eriksson, knocking him out of the game with a concussion. Thornton was assessed a match penalty. Orpik hasn’t played since the game.

The suspension will cost Thornton $84,615. He served three games of the ban before the length of the suspension was determined.

Longtime OSU football trainer dead at 88

COLUMBUS, Ohio

John Bozick, Ohio State’s longtime football equipment manager throughout the tenures of Woody Hayes and Earle Bruce, died Friday. He was 88. Ohio State officials confirmed the death.

During his decades of service and long after his retirement, Bozick remained a fixture around the team’s practice facility. He was a friend and a foil of Hayes’ during the coach’s 28 years in charge of the Buckeyes (1951-78).

For years Bozick hung around Ohio State athletes, coaches and reporters, telling colorful stories about Hayes, who died in 1987. Bozick is one of only 17 non-athletes honored in Ohio State’s men’s athletic hall of fame.

Hiram falls in OT

HIRAM

The Hiram College men’s basketball team rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second half, but lost in overtime to Ohio Wesleyan University, 69-67, in a North Coast Athletic Conference game at Price Gymnasium.

Aaron Stefanov’s 20 points on seven-of-14 shooting (50 percent) for the Terriers (1-5, 1-2 North Coast Athletic Conference). Josh Edmondson was the only other Terrier in double figures with 12 points and had eight rebounds.

Hiram women top Thiel

HIRAM

The Hiram College women’s basketball team stretched its win streak to three with a 71-58 win against Thiel.

Sophomore forward Christy Griffin led the Terriers (4-6) with 14 points. Brianne Goodrich and senior All-NCAC guard Alexis Kemper each scored 12 points. For Thiel (2-6), Bethany Hines scored 15 points.

Kennsington has Toys for Tots campaign

CANFIELD

Kennsington Golf Club, 4171 Westford Place, is sponsoring a Toys for Tots campaign through Dec. 21.

Unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the golf shop, and participants will receive a free, nine-hole golf gift certificate for each new toy that is donated. All toys will go to local children.

Reporting prep results

The Vindicator encourages coaches and statisticians to report prep results by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712). Phone calls (330-747-1478) are also acceptable but emails and faxes are strongly preferred. Deadline is 10:30 p.m.

Staff reports/Associated Press