College Football: Cincinnati hires Central Michigan coach

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati went right back to Central Michigan for its next coach.

Butch Jones was hired Wednesday to replace Brian Kelly, who came from Central Michigan three years ago and built the Bearcats' program into national prominence before leaving for Notre Dame last week. Now it's up to one of his former assistants to keep it there.

The fourth-ranked Bearcats (12-0) won their second straight Big East title, finished third in the BCS rankings and earned a chance to play Florida in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

"It's very rare to have the opportunity to come in and take over a two-time defending champion and the No. 3 team in the country," said Jones, who agreed to a five-year deal.

The chance came along because Kelly left for Notre Dame last Thursday. Jeff Quinn, who was his offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, was named interim coach and will direct the team in its first Sugar Bowl appearance while Jones settles in.

"I'm going to be around," Jones said. "But I'm going to be in the background. I think it's all about them finishing what they started."

No. 25 Central Michigan plays Troy in the GMAC Bowl on Jan. 6. Associate head coach Steve Stripling was named interim coach for the Chippewas' bowl game.

Jones' familiarity with the Big East and his penchant for wide-open offenses were major factors in getting him to Cincinnati.

He worked under Kelly for one year at Central Michigan before going to West Virginia as offensive coordinator for two years under Rich Rodriguez. The Mountaineers had one of the nation's top offenses while he was there in 2005 and 2006. When Kelly left for Cincinnati, Jones went back to Central Michigan, got his job and bought his home.

The two coaches stayed in touch over the years.

"I bought his house in Mt. Pleasant," Jones said. "That's the first thing he said: 'Want to buy my house?' "

Notes

• Former Kansas coach Mark Mangino will be paid $3 million as part of a settlement both sides signed last week. The university said the settlement will be paid through private funds raised by the athletic department, with no taxpayer money involved. Mangino resigned earlier this month amid allegations he emotionally mistreated his players. He had four years left on his contract, worth $2.3 million per year.

• Quarterback Tavita Pritchard from Clover Park High School near Tacoma will end his Stanford career by starting for the Cardinal in its first bowl appearance in eight years. With starter Andrew Luck nursing an injured finger on his throwing hand, Pritchard is expected to get the start for the 19th-ranked Cardinal (8-4) when it faces Oklahoma (7-5) in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

• California star tailback Jahvid Best will not play in the Poinsettia Bowl as he continues his recovery from a frightening fall and concussion that sidelined him last month.

• Tennessee announced that junior-college quarterback Matt Simms, son of former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, has signed to play for the Volunteers in 2010.

• San Jose State hired Duke defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre to replace Dick Tomey as coach.

• Louisiana-Monroe hired Todd Berry as its new coach.

• Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn will skip his senior season and enter April's NFL draft after a disappointing junior year. He is projected as a second-round draft pick.

• John Lomax III, accused of stabbing Connecticut cornerback Jasper Howard to death in October, pleaded not guilty to murder in Hartford.