Bill Cowher says he won’t coach in 2009

Former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher doesn’t plan to coach in the NFL next year, and will stay with CBS Sports as a studio analyst.

Cowher was recently wooed by the New York Jets, but said during “The NFL Today” on Sunday that he’s taking it “year to year.”

“It’s a privilege and an honor to be a head coach in the National Football League,” Cowher said. “And I have been flattered about the attention, but the timing right now is not right. I don’t plan on coaching next year.”

Cowher took himself out of the running as a candidate for the Jets job on Dec. 30. He also was a candidate for the vacant Cleveland job, but asked to be taken off the list.

Bill Parcells is staying with the Miami Dolphins, owner Wayne Huizenga said. After the team’s playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Huizenga said Parcells has decided to remain for another season.

Parcells’ contract allows him to leave and still receive the $9-12 million remaining on his four-year contract if the franchise is sold. That sale is expected to be completed soon.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones might pursue former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan for the 2010 season, ESPN reported. Shanahan, who was fired Tuesday as the Broncos’ coach and vice president of football operations, would be the leading candidate to replace Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips if Jones makes a move for the 2009 season, though 2010 would be more likely, ESPN said, citing unidentified people with the team.

A day after interviewing Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo in New York, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen met with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the Boston area.

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis had a 90-minute phone conversation with Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride about the team’s coaching vacancy. The two spoke Saturday after Gilbride had expressed interest in the job through his agent, Raiders senior executive John Herrera said.

Atlanta’s Mike Smith edged Miami’s Tony Sparano by one vote for the Associated Press 2008 NFL coach of the year award.

WINTER SPORTS

Vonn’s crash costs her win, lead in the World Cup

With the finish and the victory literally in sight, Lindsey Vonn made a costly error.

The 24-year-old American crashed just five gates before the finish on the icy Crveni Spust slalom course in Zagreb, Croatia, losing a likely victory and the overall lead in the World Cup standings.

Maria Riesch of Germany finished in a combined time of 1 minute, 58.69 seconds to win her third straight slalom and take the lead in the standings. Vonn led after the opening leg and was 0.94 seconds faster than Riesch at the second intermediate time in the final run before hitting a gate and crashing. She was not hurt.

Races at the U.S. Cross Country Championship in Anchorage have been postponed for the second straight day by temperatures that neared 11 degrees below zero. The cutoff for running a race is 4 degrees below zero.

ETC.

Mater Dei’s Barkley stars in All-America game

Matt Barkley of Santa Ana Mater Dei threw two touchdown passes to lead his White Team to a 27-16 victory over the Black Team at the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game in Orlando, Fla.

Barkley hit Marlon Brown of Memphis for a 71-yard score on the game’s first possession, then followed with a 35-yard scoring pass to Jamal Reid, who is headed to Miami.

During the game, John Martinez, an offensive guard from Salt Lake City, committed to USC, where he will join Barkley.

James van Riemsdyk scored at 2:49 of overtime to give the United States a 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic in the fifth-place game in the world junior hockey championship in Ottawa.

Trinidadian boxing champion Jisselle Salandy, one of the sport’s rising young stars, died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car crash on the outskirts of the Caribbean country’s capital. She was 21.

Known for her quick feet and fast hands, Salandy had easily defended her WBC, WBA and WIBA belts against the Dominican Republic’s Yahaira Hernandez on Dec. 26, which pushed Salandy’s professional record to 17-0.

Lei Clijsters, the father of tennis player Kim Clijsters and a former Belgium soccer international, died at 52 after a yearlong battle with lung cancer. He played 40 matches for Belgium’s national team, participating in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.