Sports briefs

COLLEGES

WVU settles suit with Big East

West Virginia University announced Tuesday it has settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.

Athletics director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn't release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.

A person familiar with the agreement said the settlement totaled $20 million, but did not know how much money would come from the university and how much the Big 12 may contribute. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not announced with the agreement.

Luck said the funding will come only from private sources and money athletics raised independently. WVU has already paid half of the required $5 million exit fee.

• Big East commissioner John Marinatto said his league "might be open to a discussion" about allowing Syracuse and Pittsburgh to join the Atlantic Coast Conference for the 2013 football season. Marinatto had previously said the league intends to hold West Virginia, Syracuse and Pittsburgh in the conference until 2014.

• The Patriot League will begin offering football scholarships in 2013 in a move the conference hopes could position itself for potential expansion.

• The Big South Conference is looking for a home for its men's and women's basketball tournaments beginning in 2013. Commissioner Kyle Kallander said the conference sent out inquires about two weeks ago to all Big South schools and potential neutral site locations. Kallander said the goal is to find the perfect mutual site for the men's and women's tournament for the next three years. The women's tournament currently is held in High Point, N.C., but the men's tournament site is determined annually based on the highest seed.

NFL

Snead named new GM of Rams

The St. Louis Rams have hired Les Snead as their new general manager, bringing in another front-office veteran as they try to get out of the NFL cellar.

Snead spent the past 13 years with the Atlanta Falcons, the past three as director of player personnel.

The Rams are in the midst of an overhaul after winning just 15 games the past five seasons. They have the second overall pick in April's draft after going 2-14 last season.

The Rams already have hired a new coach in Jeff Fisher. He replaced Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired along with general manager Billy Devaney after going 10-38 in three seasons.

• Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel hired Jim Zorn, who was passed over for the offensive coordinator position, as his quarterbacks coach.

TRACK AND FIELD

Jamaica's Clarke wins 60-meter race

Fast in Arkansas, faster in France.

Lerone Clarke set the world-leading time for 60 meters in Fayetteville over the weekend. The Jamaican then crossed the Atlantic and shaved 0.02 seconds off that time to win in 6.50, beating Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre in a meet in Lievin.

Lemaitre, the European sprint champion, had his typical slow start and finished in 6.57, still strong enough to come back and beat Jamaica's Mickael Frater at the tape for second.

The French hope for two sprint medals at the Olympics redeemed himself in the 200, again coming from behind to edge Antoine Adams of Saint Kitts and Nevis with a time of 20.92.

Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia won the pole vault in 15 feet, 91/4 inches and was followed by Cuba's Yarisley Silva (15-51/2).

In the women's 800, Morocco's Malika Akkaoui set a world-leading time of 1:59.01, clawing her way back into the race to beat Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo of Kenya at the tape.

In the men's 800, Poland's Adam Kszczot had another great outing, improving on the world leading and personal best, this time with 1:44.57.

ELSEWHERE

• Seeded players Sabine Lisicki and Daniela Hantuchova lost in the opening round of the Qatar Open after holding one-set leads.

• Sisters Venus and Serena Williams will return to the reigning champion Washington Kastles, and John McEnroe and Martina Hingis are staying with the New York Sportimes after the World TeamTennis marquee draft. The WTT Pro League full draft is March 13, and the season runs July 9-29. The finals weekend is Sept. 14-16 in Charleston, S.C.

• Kim Clijsters announced she has withdrawn from next month's BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., because of an injury to her left ankle.

• Tiger Woods announced on his website he would play the Match Play Championship next week in Arizona, followed by two Florida events — the Honda Classic at PGA National and the Cadillac Championship at Doral.

• The Washington Mystics have acquired center Ashley Robinson from the Seattle Storm in a trade for first-round draft pick Victoria Dunlap.

• The Seattle Sounders of the W-League, which is affiliated with the United Soccer Leagues, announced they have signed goalkeeper Hope Solo and forward Sydney Leroux for the 2012 season.

AROUND THE STATE

• The Davenport North American Open squash tournament will showcase nine of the world's top 10 players when, starting Sunday, it begins a six-day run at the Westwood Club. Englishman James Willstrop has been installed as the No. 1 seed after winning three major tournaments at the end of 2011. His competition next week will include Englishman Nick Matthew, the reigning world champion who is seeking a third consecutive NAO title. Event and ticket information is available at www.naosquash.com. Ticket prices begin at $10 per session.

• The Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10k surged past 30,000 entries Tuesday. Organizers have established a participation ceiling of 42,500. The event will take place March 31.

From staff and wire reports