Colleges

Offensive coordinator steps down for Bulls

By GREG AUMAN
Published April 19, 2005

TAMPA - Mike Hobbie, USF's offensive coordinator during its four years in Division I-A football, resigned Monday to pursue a future in private business.

"Mike's done a great job, but just felt like it was time," said coach Jim Leavitt, who added Hobbie's decision was unexpected and set no timetable for naming a replacement. "I know he'll be very successful. We will never be able to repay him for everything he's done for our program."

Hobbie, who could not be reached for comment, cited similar reasons when he stepped down as USF's tight ends coach in July 1998, but he was back in football as coach at Gaither High seven months later.

Hobbie's no-huddle spread offense was a hit in his first season as coordinator, ranking 13th nationally in 2001, averaging 35.2 points and piling up 3,995 passing yards. The scoring production dropped off in each of the next three years, with last year's Bulls averaging 24.6 points and finishing with a passing offense that ranked 105th nationally.

If Leavitt were to promote from his offensive staff, the most experienced option would be running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Carl Franks, who spent 12 seasons working in Steve Spurrier's offense at Duke and Florida. Franks also was head coach at Duke for four seasons before joining Leavitt's staff last spring.

NEBRASKA: Quarterback Joe Dailey has been given permission to transfer after falling from starter last season to fourth string.

SOUTH CAROLINA: Drug tests were given to two players charged with simple possession of marijuana, coach Steve Spurrier said. Columbia police arrested sophomore linebacker Josh Johnson and sophomore defensive back Ty Erving after an officer found marijuana inside a parked car the players were in. "They said they didn't do it. We'll find out. It's as simple as that," Spurrier said. He said he will decide whether to take any disciplinary action in a few days.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Hall of Famer Clarence "Big House" Gaines, one of basketball's winningest coaches during his 47 seasons at Winston-Salem State, died possibly from a stroke, his daughter, Lisa Gaines McDonald, said. He was 81.

Mr. Gaines, a native of Paducah, Ky., retired in 1993 after 47 seasons at Division II Winston-Salem State. His 828 wins rank fifth on the NCAA career coaching wins list, behind Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Bob Knight and Jim Phelan. He had 18 20-win seasons and won 11 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles at Winston-Salem. In 1967 he led the Rams, featuring future NBA star Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, to a 31-1 record and an NCAA title. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.

FAU HIRES DOHERTY: Matt Doherty was hired as Florida Atlantic's coach, starting over two years after he resigned at North Carolina. "I've been to the top of the mountain," Doherty, 43, said. "The view's not always better from there."

NOTRE DAME: Dennis Latimore will not return for his final year of eligibility, becoming the second Fighting Irish forward to leave school early in the last week.

UCF's Mike Billek of Palm Harbor was named Atlantic Sun pitcher of the week after a career-high eight shutout innings in a win over Belmont.

C-USA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS: USF's Fernanda Rivera shot 2-under-par 70 for a one-shot lead after the first round in Germantown, Tenn. USF was tied for second, four behind TCU (294).

Tatiana George and Kim Hoffer each went 2-for-3 as Florida State toppled Florida A&M 4-1 in Tallahassee.

[Last modified April 19, 2005, 01:20:12]