WINNINGEST PREP COACH RETIRES
Nation’s winningest high school football coach retires
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (AP) โ The nation’s winningest high school football coach has decided to retire.
Summerville High School coach John McKissick announced Tuesday he is stepping down immediately. The 88-year-old won 621 games and 10 state titles during 63 seasons at the high school just outside of Charleston.
The National Federation of State High School Associations says McKissick’s victories are the most ever.
McKissick says he decided in the last few weeks it was time to quit. He endorsed his grandson who is currently Summerville’s offensive coordinator to be the new coach, but says he will leave that decision up to others.
Praise for McKissick came from around the state. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier says McKissick is a smart, well-respected coach and he will miss talking with him during recruiting trips.
PANTHERS-NORMAN
Coach: Panthers’ Norman on verge of being a top cornerback
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) โ If football fans aren’t familiar with Josh Norman by now, Panthers assistant head coach Steve Wilks promises they will be soon.
Wilks says the 27-year-old Norman is “on the verge of being one of the top corners in the National Football League.”
Norman has solidified his spot as Carolina’s shutdown corner on a defense that has ranked in the top 10 since his arrival in 2012. A year ago the 6-foot, 195-pound Norman showed an ability to keep standout receivers Julio Jones and Calvin Johnson in check.
And Wilks says he’s only getting better.
The fourth-year cornerback continues to turn heads in practice with his athleticism and grit, making a pass breakup last week that Wilks says “I have never seen anyone make in my 10 years as a coach.”
WAKE FOREST-WOODS
Charlotte transfer Woods picks Wake Forest
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) โ Wake Forest has added Charlotte transfer Keyshawn Woods to its basketball team.
Coach Danny Manning announced Woods’ addition Tuesday. He will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2016-17.
The guard from Gastonia averaged 8.4 points and 1.2 assists while shooting nearly 49 percent from the field in his only season with the 49ers. He led Conference USA by shooting nearly 47 percent from 3-point range.
Manning says Woods “has a tremendous work ethic on and off the court.”
NORTH CAROLINA-GRAY
UNC: leading scorer Gray granted release to pursue transfer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) โ North Carolina has granted a release for leading scorer Allisha Gray to pursue a transfer.
The school said in a release Tuesday Gray can speak with other schools “about the possibility” of transferring, though Sylvia Hatchell said in a statement she still hopes to continue coaching Gray at UNC.
The 6-foot sophomore wing averaged 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds, making the all-Atlantic Coast Conference first team as the Tar Heels reached the NCAA Sweet 16.
If Gray departs, she would be the third transfer from a four-player recruiting class ranked No. 1 nationally in 2013. Star Diamond DeShields transferred to Tennessee after leading UNC to an NCAA regional final as a freshman. Guard Jessica Washington said last month she is also leaving.
NASCAR-KENTUCKY-NEW RULES
NASCAR to go to lower downforce for July race at Kentucky
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) โ NASCAR will use a rules package with lower downforce for next month’s race at Kentucky Speedway.
The change announced Tuesday by chief racing development officer Steve O’Donnell is only for the July 11 race in Sparta, Kentucky.
The package will include a reduced spoiler height, a wider splitter extension and tires with more grip. The track will open July 8 for teams to setup their cars with the new rules.
The change comes after lengthy discussions from all corners of the industry on how to improve the on-track product. NASCAR has been trying to set rules for 2016, but so far this year’s rules have provided uninspired racing, particularly at 1.5-mile speedways.
NASCAR last week discussed Kentucky with key industry executives, and recently met with a new drivers’ council.
WATKINS GLEN-TIMES SQUARE
Vroom! Vroom! Sahlen’s 6 Hours of The Glen in Times Square
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (AP) โ Watkins Glen International is going the extra mile in promoting The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
Through a partnership with Superior Digital Displays and Starworks Motorsport, the storied track in New York’s Finger Lakes region will have a display in New York City’s Times Square of the six-hour race, part of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship sports car series.
Times Square will be adorned with 4,500 square feet of digital billboards showing the likeness of the June 28th race.
WGI President Michael Printup says “the opportunity to be exposed to the masses that travel through that area each and every day is phenomenal.”
According to Superior Digital Displays, over 1 million potential viewers move through Times Square in a single day.
The billboards will run until race day.
