Montana Hires Kennedy as Its Coach

Former DePaul and Florida State Coach Pat Kennedy took over Montana’s program Thursday, replacing Don Holst.

Holst was fired in late March despite leading the Grizzlies to the Big Sky Conference tournament championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Kennedy, 50, has a 393-276 career record.

Cal State Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell is expected to interview for the vacant Oregon State position, possibly today or over the weekend. Braswell said he met with Oregon State Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart in Atlanta, but would not disclose any details of their meeting.

Braswell, 39, was a finalist for the same opening two years ago, but lost out to Ritchie McKay, who took the New Mexico job last week.

Northridge Athletic Director Dick Dull said Oregon State officials have not contacted him requesting permission to interview Braswell.

Mississippi State center Mario Austin has changed his mind and will make himself available for the NBA draft, his mother said. The 6-foot-9 sophomore announced last week he would return to school.... West Virginia hired Bowling Green’s Dan Dakich as its coach, replacing Gale Catlett, who retired in February after 24 seasons with the Mountaineers.... Mike Anderson, who took over at Arkansas after Nolan Richardson’s stormy departure, became Alabama Birmingham’s coach.... Jeff Lebo is leaving Tennessee Tech to take over at Chattanooga Tennessee Tech Athletic Director David Larimore....An Anderson College player died after collapsing in the team’s locker room in Anderson, S.C. Cedric Barovero, a freshman from Argentina, was found by a teammate on the locker room floor minutes after taking a break from a pickup game.