Kansas Fires AD Bohl, Who Blames Williams

Kansas fired Athletic Director Al Bohl on Wednesday, and he said basketball Coach Roy Williams was behind it.

“I believe the Kansas basketball coach had the power to hold his athletics director in his hand like a dove,” Bohl said. “And he had a choice to either crush me with his power of influence or let me fly with my vision for a better, total program. He chose to crush me.”

Bohl had numerous clashes with the popular Williams, whose Jayhawks lost to Syracuse in the national championship game Monday night. Bohl was hired in 2001 to replace longtime athletic director Bob Frederick, a friend of Williams.

Williams is expected to be a leading contender for the vacant coaching position at North Carolina, his alma mater. Williams turned down the job three years ago, but he has faced frequent questions about the opening since Matt Doherty resigned April 1.

Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway said North Carolina Athletic Director Dick Baddour contacted him Wednesday about speaking with Williams.

Hemenway denied he fired Bohl to convince Williams to stay. Bohl, however, is convinced that the decision to remove him was made by Williams, not Hemenway.

Williams said Bohl tried “extremely hard,” but also acknowledged that the two men had their differences.

Hemenway appointed A. Drue Jennings, a Kansas graduate, former football player and the former chief executive of Kansas City Power & Light, to take over as interim athletic director.

College Basketball

Villanova officials said the NCAA will not sanction the school over allegations that Tim Thomas accepted lavish gifts in the 1996-1997 school year from a man who wanted to be his agent.

John Calipari said in a statement that he is staying as coach at Memphis. He has been mentioned as a candidate for several vacant positions.... Brian Gregory was hired as coach at Dayton. He was an assistant at Michigan State.... Porter Moser has resigned as coach at Arkansas Little Rock to become coach at Illinois State.... Susie Gardner was hired as women’s coach at Arkansas. She was the coach at Austin Peay.

Tennis

Serena Williams defeated Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar, 6-3, 6-0, in the second round of the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, S.C.

Anna Kournikova of Russia withdrew from her match with Conchita Martinez of Spain because of an injured thigh muscle. Martinez led, 6-4, 1-1.

Second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium defeated Tina Pisnik of Slovenia, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, and American Ashley Harkleroad defeated ninth-seeded Elena Bovina of Russia, 6-2, 6-2.

Third-seeded Sjeng Schalken of the Netherlands lost to Nikolay Davydenko of Russia, 6-3, 6-2, leaving the Estoril Open without its top three seeded players after the first round at Oeiras, Portugal.... Hicham Arazi of Morocco defeated Fernando Meligini of Brazil, 6-3, 6-0, to reach the quarterfinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II at Casablanca, Morocco.

Pete Sampras has asked for a wild card for the Wimbledon warmup tournament at Queen’s Club on June 9-15 at London.

The U.S. will play at Slovakia from Sept. 19-21 in Davis Cup playoffs for the World Group.

Jurisprudence

Former NBA and Virginia basketball player Ralph Sampson was sentenced in Charlottesville, Va., to a year of probation after pleading guilty to failing to pay child support to his 18-year-old daughter.

A Summit County (Ohio) Common Pleas judge ruled against LeBron James, agreeing with Ohio high school officials that the basketball player should not have been allowed to play for a state title. But the judge said the Ohio High School Athletic Assn. can’t force Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to forfeit any victories because of his ruling.

Miscellany

Richard Bloch, the arbitrator who awarded restricted free-agent kick returner Chad Morton to Washington on Monday, is a Redskins’ season-ticket holder. But the NFL Players Assn. said Bloch had disclosed before the arbitration hearing that he was a season-ticket holder.

New Zealander Gavin Brady has a four-match lead over Australia’s James Spithill and Italy’s Paulo Cian in the 39th Congressional Cup match race sailing classic off Long Beach.

Offensive tackle Elliot Vallejo has left the UCLA football team. Vallejo redshirted as a freshman last season.

Passings

Louis “Red” Stephens, 72, an offensive left guard for the Redskins from 1955 to 1960 after starring at the University of San Francisco, died Sunday in his home at Placitas, N.M.

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T.J. Simers’ column will appear Friday.