UCLA promotes Chuck Bullough to defensive coordinator

UCLA looked within to fill its defensive coordinator position Monday, promoting Chuck Bullough and adding Carnell Lake to the staff as cornerbacks coach.

Bullough, 40, had been the Bruins’ linebackers coach the last three seasons under defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who was hired as New Mexico State’s coach in December.

UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel interviewed candidates outside the program but decided Bullough was best suited in terms of consistency.

“I had a yearlong interview with Chuck, watching how he and DeWayne interacted,” Neuheisel said. “It was clear that he leaned on Chuck. . . . It was clear the answer was here with Chuck.”

Bullough said that UCLA’s defensive scheme would change little, if at all. Todd Howard will remain the defensive line coach and Tim Hauck the safeties coach.

Lake, 41, played at UCLA and spent 12 seasons in the NFL, 10 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

-- Chris Foster

BASEBALL

Pettitte, Yankees reach agreement

After months of stalled negotiations, Andy Pettitte and the New York Yankees agreed to a one-year, $5.5-million contract. Although the guaranteed money is less than half of New York’s original $10-million offer, he can make an additional $6.5 million in bonuses: $4.5 million based on innings and $2 million based on days on the active roster.

“There was never another team brought up,” Pettitte said during a conference call. “I wanted to come back to the Yankees.”

The Dodgers’ deal with Brad Ausmus became official Monday when the veteran catcher passed his physical. Ausmus received a one-year contract for $1 million and can make as much as $350,000 more in incentives. . . . Andre Ethier’s arbitration hearing with the Dodgers is scheduled for Feb. 17. The sides exchanged salary figures last week, with the team offering $2.65 million for next season and the outfielder asking for $3.75 million.

BOXING

Lawsuit against Mosley dismissed

Shane Mosley’s big victory in the ring Saturday to regain the welterweight title came on the heels of a legal triumph over his former conditioning coach. The defamation lawsuit filed last year against Mosley by Derryl Hudson was dismissed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Thursday.

“Hudson . . . has not demonstrated a probability of succeeding on the merits of his claim,” Judge Alan S. Rosenfield said in his six-page order granting Mosley’s motion to dismiss the suit.

Hudson filed the lawsuit early last year after Mosley told some reporters in 2007 that he was told by Hudson that the performance-enhancing drugs he took from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative were vitamins that would help his training regimen before his 2003 rematch against Oscar De La Hoya.

-- Lance Pugmire

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Arraignments are postponed

The arraignments of two Cal State Northridge basketball players and the son of Coach Bobby Braswell in connection with felony charges in an alleged theft at an electronics store have been postponed until Feb. 26.

The attorney for one of the players, freshman guard Dallas Rutherford, said he is preparing a guilty plea and seeking probation.

“There is going to be a plea. He has cooperated with police and returned the merchandise and gave Best Buy an apology,” attorney Ronald Hedding said. “I’m in the process of cooperating with the district attorney’s office.”

Braswell, whose 22-year-old son, Jeffrey, a Northridge student, is also charged in the case, declined to comment through a school spokesman but said leading scorer Deon Tresvant and Rutherford, a reserve, would continue to be withheld from competition.

-- Robyn Norwood

Mark Gottfried, who signed a six-year contract with Alabama in 2005 that made him the school’s first $1-million basketball coach, resigned in the middle of his 11th season amid criticism of his team (12-7, 2-3 in the Southeastern Conference) and the departure of point guard Ronald Steele, a preseason first-team All-American two years ago, who later was hit by injuries.

Gottfried will be replaced by assistant coach Philip Pearson. Gottfried, who played at Alabama, said he quit during a meeting with Athletic Director Mal Moore.

“It has been a wonderful decade for me and my family, and I love the University of Alabama, but I feel that it is in the best interests of everyone involved,” Gottfried said in a statement released by the school.

Conference USA suspended Houston guard Aubrey Coleman one game for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy when he stepped on another player during the Cougars’ game at Arizona.

ETC.

Curlin is horse of the year again

Dubai World Cup winner Curlin was chosen horse of the year for the second year in a row at the Eclipse Awards. Big Brown, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was chosen 3-year-old male of the year.

The funeral for Walt Ransom, a backup quarterback for USC’s 1978 national-championship team, is scheduled for Friday at noon at St. Mary’s by the Sea Catholic Church in Huntington Beach.