Huge rebuilding job awaits Miles at Kansas

Huge rebuilding job awaits Miles at Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan.

Les Miles is headed back to the Big 12 and another massive rebuilding job, this time taking on the downtrodden program at Kansas in a splashy hire aimed at energizing a weary fan base.

The deal was finalized shortly before Miles arrived at the airport in nearby Topeka on Sunday. Miles signed a five-year contract that will pay him $2,775,000 annually with retention bonuses of $775,000 due in November 2020 and $500,000 in November 2022.

“Since the beginning of our search, we focused on identifying and recruiting an experienced head coach with a track record of success on and off the field,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said in a statement. “Les Miles is exactly what we need right now.”

Miles was considered the front-runner for the Jayhawks’ job from the moment David Beaty was told he would not be retained two weeks ago. The 65-year-old Miles has a close relationship with Long dating to their days together at Michigan, and Miles had told those around him he wanted back in coaching.

Miles and Long had been in frequent contact over the past two weeks, and it became clear a deal was close when LSU announced Thursday it had agreed to a buyout with its former coach. Miles agreed to a lump sum of $1.5 million of the remaining $6.5 million he was owed under terms of his buyout.

Winter schedules are needed

The Vindicator sports department needs winter schedules from high schools in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties. Athletic directors are encouraged to send them by email (sports@vindy.com) or fax (330-747-6712).

Howell wins playoff in PGA’s RSM Classic

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA.

Charles Howell III made a 15-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff with Patrick Rodgers on Sunday in the RSM Classic to end an 11-year victory drought.

Howell dropped to his knees and buried his head in his hands, then tearfully embraced wife Heather and children Ansley and Chase — neither of whom were born when he last won on the PGA Tour at Riviera in 2007.

Howell earned $1,152,000 and a return trip to his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, in April to play in the Masters for the first time since 2012

“That was the first thing that popped into my head [after making the clinching putt],” Howell said. “Obviously, it means a lot to me being from Augusta but it means a lot to every player, right? Every golfer in the world knows what the Masters is so I’m nothing special on that. But that tournament, that atmosphere, just everything ... it’s tough at home to sit back and watch that on television.”

After Rodgers sent a birdie attempt of 21 feet past the cup on the second extra hole, Howell’s putt died in the cup and capped a comeback in which he went bogey-double bogey on his first two holes to lose the lead he had held through the first three rounds.

Former Phantom Saad scores for Blackhawks

CHICAGO

The Chicago Blackhawks got off to a fast start and then leaned on Corey Crawford to pull out a sorely needed win.

Jonathan Toews and Brandon Saad (Mahoning Valley Phantoms 2008-09) scored first-period goals, Crawford made 39 saves and Chicago held on to defeat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 on Sunday night.

Dominik Kahun added an empty-netter with 58.5 second left as the Blackhawks improved to 2-2-2 under coach Jeremy Colliton, who replaced Joel Quenneville on Nov. 6. Patrick Kane had two assists for Chicago, 2-0-2 in its last four games.

“There’s no secret [Crawford’s] great,” Colliton said.

Crawford had to be flawless after Minnesota’s Zach Parise scored in the second period to cut it to 2-1. The Wild controlled the play throughout the rest of the game, but the goalie said he was able to see Minnesota’s shots and his teammates were limiting rebounds.

Staff/wire report