SPORTS digest

YSU bowling coach to speak to Curbstone

BEAVER TOWNSHIP

Youngstown State University Bowling Coach Chelsea Gilliam will be the guest speaker at Monday’s luncheon meeting of The Curbstone Coaches at the Avion Banquet Center.

The event begins at noon and the public is welcome to attend.

Plans are under way for the 51st Curbstone Coaches Hall of Fame Induction ceremony on May 6 at Mr. Anthony’s in Boardman. The keynote speaker will be Paul McFadden, a former Youngstown State and NFL placekicker.

Tickets are available by contacting Mariel Sallee at 330-519-6819.

Brown, Malkin fined for penalties

NEW YORK

Los Angeles Kings forward Dustin Brown has been fined $10,000 for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Justin Schultz.

The incident occurred at 6:36 of the third period of the Penguins’ 3-1 win on Thursday night. Brown was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for boarding.

Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin was fined $5,000 for spearing Brown at 6:57 of the first period.

Texans’ Vrabel hired as Titans head coach

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

The Tennessee Titans hired Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel as their new coach in a fast search that wrapped up after three interviews and just five days after firing Mike Mularkey.

The Titans announced Saturday they have agreed to terms with Vrabel.

Vrabel was the first person Tennessee interviewed after firing Mularkey on Monday. Mularkey, who also coached Buffalo and Jacksonville, went 21-22 and led the franchise to its first playoff victory in 14 years . This will be Vrabel’s first head coaching job after 18 years in the NFL — 14 as a player and four as a coach.

Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement it was easy to see Vrabel’s commanding presence and relationship with general manager Jon Robinson. The GM got his start in the NFL as a scout with the New England Patriots, where Vrabel won three Super Bowls as a linebacker.

“Mike has a commanding presence and a deep understanding for how he will attack this head coaching opportunity,” Strunk said.

The 42-year-old Vrabel is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans. Vrabel’s 14-year career as a player included stints with Pittsburgh under coach Bill Cowher and New England under coach Bill Belichick, along with Kansas City.

In 2011, he joined the staff at his alma mater, Ohio State, coaching linebackers and defensive linemen.

North Korea to send 22 athletes to Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland

A Korean unity deal for the Pyeongchang Olympics will see 22 North Korean athletes cross the border with South Korea to compete and march together under a unification flag at the opening ceremony.

Twelve North Korean women’s hockey players will join their South Korea neighbors in a united roster playing in special uniforms with a Korean song as their anthem.

North Koreans will also compete in figure skating, short track speed skating, Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing after being given exceptional late entries by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday.

The North Korean delegation will also include 24 coaches and officials, plus 21 media representatives at the Feb. 9-25 Winter Games.

The governments of North and South Korea were offered “sincere thanks” by IOC President Thomas Bach announcing the agreement.

An Olympic deal became possible after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said three weeks ago that a team could cross the border to compete.

Staff/wire report