Amid the Montreal Canadiens' worst start to a season in franchise history, owner Geoff Molson announced the firings of general manager Marc Bergevin, assistant general manager Trevor Timmins and Paul Wilson, the team's senior vice president in charge of public affairs and communications. Molson, who will hold a news conference this morning, also announced the hiring of former New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton as executive vice president of hockey operations to "assure the continuity of the day-to-day hockey operations during this process." (Montreal Gazette)
A formal announcement of Fenway Sports Group's purchase of the Pittsburgh Penguins is expected today after the company signed a purchase agreement with owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle, according to a source with firsthand knowledge of the deal, which must now be approved by the NHL Board of Governors. The sale is reportedly worth $900 million, and both Lemieux and Burkle are expected to remain as part of the team's ownership group. (DK Pittsburgh Sports)
University of Oklahoma football coach Lincoln Riley is leaving the school after five seasons and three College Football Playoff appearances to take the same position at the University of Southern California. Oklahoma, which signed Riley to a six-year contract extension last year, will reportedly be owed a $4.5 million buyout. (The Oklahoman)
COLLEGE SPORTS
Florida hires Billy Napier of University of Louisiana as its next football coach Zach Abolverdi, The Gainesville Sun
Florida has hired Louisiana coach Billy Napier as its new head football coach, Athletics Director Scott Stricklin announced Sunday. Napier, 42, has compiled a 39-12 record in four years at Louisiana-Lafayette, including three consecutive 10-win seasons, four straight Sun Belt West Division titles and the Sun Belt Conference Championship in 2020.
Duke football coach David Cutcliffe will not return for 15th season Steve Wiseman, The Raleigh News & Observer
David Cutcliffe's 14-year tenure as Duke's football coach, which saw him raise a moribund program into a regular bowl participant before a regression over the last three seasons, is over. Duke athletics director Nina King and the 67-year-old Cutcliffe met Sunday and they reached a mutual agreement for a separation.
Washington State lifts Jake Dickert into permanent head-coaching job Colton Clark, The Spokane Spokesman-Review
The Cougars removed the interim tag from Jake Dickert's title and lifted the defensive coordinator into the program's permanent head-coaching job. WSU announced the news Saturday evening, about 24 hours after Dickert's Cougars wrapped up their most lopsided Apple Cup victory in program history.
Herm Edwards now expected to return as Arizona State football coach? Jeremy Cluff, Arizona Republic
Speculation has surrounded the future of Herm Edwards as Arizona State football coach for weeks, with much of it centered on him potentially resigning or being fired as the Sun Devils football coach. The speculation has turned after Arizona State's 38-15 win over Arizona in the Territorial Cup on Saturday.
