COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : McCarney Hired at Iowa State

Dan McCarney, who helped rebuild sagging football programs at Iowa and Wisconsin, accepted the challenge of trying to do the same at Iowa State--this time as a head coach.

McCarney, 41, became the 29th football coach at Iowa State, which has had only three winning seasons in the last 16 years and was one of only two Division I-A teams that didn’t win this season.

It’s the first head coaching job for McCarney, who was defensive coordinator at Wisconsin the last five years and an assistant at Iowa for 13 seasons.

McCarney replaces Jim Walden, who resigned under pressure Nov. 3 after eight seasons. Iowa State finished 0-10-1 this season and was 28-57-3 under Walden, who had only one winning season.

McCarney got a five-year contract worth $300,000 annually, including a $135,000 base salary.

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The NCAA accepted Houston’s proposal of minor sanctions as punishment for several rules violations during the tenure of football coach John Jenkins.

The NCAA agreed with school findings that Jenkins’ staff made improper contact with recruits and provided one player a scholarship when he did not meet minimum academic standards. There was also an allegation that one player was given free furniture.

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A Milwaukee judge ruled there was sufficient evidence to try Wisconsin defensive lineman John Todryk on a drug charge.

Todryk, 20, was charged last week with selling nearly an ounce of cocaine to an undercover drug agent in March. He has pleaded innocent.

The charge carries penalties of three to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000.