Colleges

UF hires coach for new women's lacrosse team

Former All-American brings a fifth ranked Division I career winning precentage to Florida's inaugural team set to start in 2009.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published June 23, 2007

GAINESVILLE - Amanda O'Leary, a former two-sport All-American at Temple and a 2005 National Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductee, was hired Friday to coach Florida's inaugural women's team, which begins play in the 2009-10 season.

The 40-year-old coached Yale the past 14 seasons where she compiled a 162-65 record (.714), which ranks fifth among active Division I coaches for career winning percentage. She is seventh among active coaches in career wins. She took Yale to two of its three NCAA championship appearances. She played lacrosse and field hockey at Temple, where she won a national championship in the former.

"It's a dream come true for me to have a chance to be associated with one of the finest athletic programs in the country, " O'Leary said. "... When I came to the University of Florida on my interview and I stepped off the plane, quite honestly it felt like home. I waited for hours and hours hoping they would call and offer me the job."

O'Leary will receive a five-year contract worth about $75, 000-$80, 000, athletic director Jeremy Foley said.

Baseball: Beavers, Heels set for rematch

OMAHA, Neb. - The message was simple. The task was much more difficult.

"Win two of three, or we're going home, " Oregon State coach Pat Casey told his players on the eve of their final regular-season series at UCLA.

The Beavers won two of three - and they're still playing a month later. The defending national champion has won 10 of its past 11 entering its World Series final rematch against North Carolina.

It's the second time in the CWS' 61-year history that the same teams have reached the final in consecutive years.

Casey said he doubts the Beavers (47-18) would have made the 64-team national tournament if they had lost two or three against UCLA, the second-place team in the Pac-10. The Beavers tied for sixth, but they impressed the selection committee with a 28-3 record against a strong nonconference schedule.

North Carolina (57-14) swept through its region and won a three-game super region over South Carolina, both at home. The Tar Heels split their first two games in Omaha, then had to beat Louisville once and Rice twice to get back to the final.

ALL-AMERICA TEAM: Florida State's Tony Thomas and Bryan Henry, Florida's Matt LaPorta and Vanderbilt pitcher David Price, the top draft pick of the Devil Rays, were named to the Division I first team selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings. Price was also named player of the year.

BASKETBALL: The NCAA granted Tyler Smith's hardship waiver, making the forward eligible to play in the fall for Tennessee. ... Nevada's men's coach Mark Fox received a three-year contract extension through 2014. By Fox's request, the deal includes no new raises.

FOOTBALL: South Carolina coaches twice contacted athletes when they shouldn't have, among the eight NCAA secondary violations reported since January that the athletic department released. The school said the NCAA granted all requests to restore athlete eligibility in the violations. South Carolina routinely releases its secondary violations and wellness report.

Fast Facts:

World Series schedule

Today: North Carolina vs. Oregon State, 7, ESPN

Sunday: North Carolina vs. Oregon State, 7, ESPN2

Monday: North Carolina vs. Oregon State (if necessary), 7, ESPN

[Last modified June 23, 2007, 00:05:44]