Afternoon State News Briefs: MU Athletic Director resigns

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MILWAUKEE - Marquette University athletic director Steve Cottingham has resigned, in the wake of a controversy involving two allegations of sexual assaults by student-athletes.

In a letter to University President Robert Wild, Cottingham said the recent events have been disappointing, but he leaves Marquette with quote, “positive feelings and confidence in its future.” Cottingham has run the Golden Eagle athletic department since the start of 2007. Deputy athletic director Mark Broeker will take the top job on an interim basis. Cottingham’s accomplishments include the signings of several coaches including men’s basketball leader Buzz Williams after his team made the NCAA Sweet-16 in March. He also helped the school add men’s and women’s lacrosse programs, which will begin in 2013. But it was the sexual assault controversy that did Cottingham in. The suspected athletes were never charged with crimes, but authorities criticized the school for not following correct procedures in their investigations. The incidents reportedly occurred last October and in February of this year, and the athletes and coaches involved were disciplined.

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The Big East Conference announced its men’s basketball schedule today. And Marquette will have home-and-home series against three teams which made the NCAA Tournament last spring – Georgetown, Villanova, and Cincinnati. The Golden Eagles went 0-3 against those schools last year. Marquette will also host Pittsburgh, Louisville, Saint John’s, Seton Hall, South Florida, and Rutgers. Of those, Louisville is expected to be the marquee matchup for Milwaukee fans. Dates-and-times for the league games will be announced later this summer.

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In the Northwoods League, things are getting bunched up at the top of the South Division standings. Eau Claire, Madison, and Green Bay are in a virtual three-way tie for the first half lead, with Battle Creek a game back in fourth. Madison hosts the Green Bay Bullfrogs tonight, after the ‘Frogs crushed the Mallards 7-1 last night. The Eau Claire Express plays at Battle Creek, on the heels of a 5-4 Express defeat in 11 innings. La Crosse will host Wisconsin Rapids again, after a 6-3 La Crosse win last evening. And the Wisconsin Woodchucks are at Waterloo, where the ‘Chucks lost 6-4. Also tonight, North Division leader Mankato plays at Thunder Bay. Rochester is at Brainerd. Duluth hosts Alexandria. And Saint Cloud plays at Willmar.

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In the Midwest League, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will open a series at Cedar Rapids tonight. The Rattlers just lost of two-of-three against Peoria, but they beat the Chiefs 5-1 last night at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Gregory Hopkins belted a three-run homer for the Timber Rattlers, on the same day the Brewers announced a four-year extension of their Class-“A” affiliation with the Appleton club. The affiliation now runs through 2016. The Beloit Snappers are connected with the Minnesota Twins. They open a series at Kane County tonight, after Beloit crushed Clinton 14-5 on Wednesday. Peoria plays at Burlington tonight. Clinton is at Quad Cities. Dayton entertains Bowling Green. Fort Wayne is at West Michigan. South Bend plays at Lake County. And Lansing travels to Great Lakes. Beloit and Kane County are tied for the early second-half lead in the Western Division, both at 5-1. Wisconsin is in a four-way tie for last at 2-4. Dayton, Lake County, and Lansing all lead the East at 4-2.

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Former Milwaukee Bucks forward Corey Maggette will become an NBA starter again. Maggette – who spent just one year with the Bucks – was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats in a three-team deal a week ago. Today, Bobcats’ coach Paul Silas said Maggette would indeed start for his team. He was expected to be a major contributor for the Bucks when he was traded from Golden State a year ago. But Maggette only made 18 starts, and he came off the bench in 49 others. He told Charlotte reporters that he was slowed down by an ankle injury – and he was not happy that Bucks’ coach Scott Skiles put him in the power forward spot at times. Maggette stayed on the Milwaukee bench near the end of last season, and observers said his departure was not a surprise. He appeared to fall out of favor when starting small forward Carlos Delfino returned from a concussion. Maggette averaged 12 points and four rebounds in about 21 minutes a game.

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Former University of Wisconsin quarterback Brooks Bollinger will coach high school football in Minnesota this fall. Bollinger has been named the new head coach at Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, just east of Saint Paul. The 31-year-old Bollinger played seven seasons with Minnesota, Dallas, and the New York Jets in the NFL after he started with the Badgers. Bollinger has spent the last two seasons in the United Football League.

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