Former Steelers DC LeBeau to join Titans

Former Steelers DC LeBeau to join Titans

After 13 seasons as Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator, legendary coach Dick LeBeau has found a new home in Nashville.

LeBeau is expected to be named assistant head coach/defense of the Tennessee Titans, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. The 77-year-old Hall of Famer teamed with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt as well as defensive coordinator Ray Horton for multiple seasons in Pittsburgh last decade.

Although Horton will retain his title, LeBeau will oversee the defense, per Wyatt. That arrangement should be familiar to both coaches. Horton was LeBeau’s right-hand man as secondary coach from 2004-2010.

Phantoms’ Connor 14th in rankings

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown Phantoms center Kyle Connor is ranked 14th in ISS Hockey’s latest ranking of North American prospects for June’s NHL Draft.

Connor is the highest-ranked player in the USHL. With 14 goals and 25 points, Connor is 10th in league scoring.

The National Development team’s Colin White, Jordan Greenway and Jeremy Bracco are 20th, 23rd and 24th while Waterloo’s Brock Boesner is 27th.

Boardman’s Popio earns HM All-America

ERIE, PA.

Mercyhurst junior catcher/designated hitter Dan Popio was named honorable mention All-America by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was a preseason NCBWA All-Atlantic Region first team selection.

Popio, Boardman High graduate, led the Lakers with a .403 batting average (56-for-139) in his first season with the team a year ago. The designated hitter also led the Lakers in doubles (15), RBIs (41), slugging percentage (.511), and walks (32), and he tied for the team lead with 71 total bases. His .525 on-base percentage was second on the team and sixth in the country.

He was an All-Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference first team selection and earned spots on the NCBWA, ABCA/Rawlings, and Daktronics All-Atlantic Region second teams last season. He played one season at Youngstown State.

UFC: Ex-champ Silva tests positive for steroids

LOS ANGELES

The UFC says former middleweight champion Anderson Silva has tested positive for steroid use. The promotion announced the results of Silva’s test Tuesday night.

Silva tested positive for Drostanolone metabolites in an out-of-competition test Jan. 9, according to the Nevada Athletic Commission. The UFC says the commission is doing further testing to confirm the results.

Silva (34-6) beat Nick Diaz by unanimous decision at UFC 183 last Saturday in Las Vegas. The fight was Silva’s return to the cage for the first time in 13 months after badly breaking his leg.

The 39-year-old Silva is considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists in the sport’s history. He won 10 consecutive title defenses over seven years as the UFC’s 185-pound champion until losing the belt to Chris Weidman in 2013.

PGA Tour caddies sue over bibs with logos

SAN DIEGO

A group of PGA Tour caddies has filed a class-action lawsuit demanding that the tour compensate them for wearing bibs.

Some 80 caddies joined the federal suit filed Tuesday in Northern California. At issue is having to wear bibs that have the logo of the tournament sponsor. The caddies contend the PGA Tour is making $50 million off the sponsors while the caddies get nothing.

The lawsuit stems from a dispute that has been brewing for more than a year. It also says the tour has denied caddies access to health care and pension plans. Named as the two class representatives were Mike Hicks, the caddie for Payne Stewart when he won his last U.S. Open, and Kenny Harms, who caddies for Kevin Na.

Staff/Wire reports