UPI NewsTrack Sports

W. Kentucky coach headed to South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C., March 31 (UPI) -- South Carolina is expected to announce Tuesday that basketball Coach Darrin Horn will leave Western Kentucky to lead the Gamecocks.

The State newspaper reported Horn will replace retiring South Carolina Coach Dave Odom.

Horn guided Western Kentucky into the third round of this year's NCAA Tournament. The Hilltoppers concluded a 29-7 season with an 88-78 loss to UCLA in the West Region semifinals last Thursday.

In five seasons at Western Kentucky, Horn, 35, had a record of 111-48. The Hilltoppers reached just one NCAA Tournament under Horn, but also made the NIT twice, losing to South Carolina in the first round in 2006.

Horn, an alumnus of Western Kentucky, started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater in 1995 and has also been an assistant at Morehead State and Marquette.

Odom announced his retirement in January and stepped down after the Gamecocks ended their season at 14-18.

U.S. Olympic office stays in Colorado

COLORADO SPRINGS, March 31 (UPI) -- The United States Olympic Committee announced Monday its headquarters will remain in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the next 25 years.

The decision came after the City Council voted to grant a $53 million package of incentives to keep the organization from moving.

Included in the package was a proposal from a private developer that will provide facility upgrades for athletes at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center, a new administrative headquarters for national governing bodies and a new administrative headquarters for the USOC.

"There has long been a special relationship between the United States Olympic Committee and the city of Colorado Springs, and we are pleased to announce today this relationship will continue," USOC Chairman Peter Ueberroth said.

The U.S. Olympic Training Center opened in Colorado Springs in 1977. In July 1978, the USOC administrative headquarters moved to Colorado Springs from New York City.

Federer a third-round winner in Miami

MIAMI, March 31 (UPI) -- Two-time champion Roger Federer was a third-round winner Monday at the $3.77 million Sony Ericsson Open.

The top-seeded/world No. 1 Federer was leading Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-0 when the Swede complained of illness and quit in the second set.

Federer, the reigning Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion, won this Miami tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Federer's fourth-round opponent will be Argentine slugger Jose Acasuso, who beat Israeli Dudi Sela 6-4, 6-4.

Fourth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko came from behind to beat Italian Simone Bolelli 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-1; Julien Benneteau beat fellow Frenchman Jo- Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-3; and Serbian Janko Tipsarevic defeated former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-4, 6-4.

Henin, Serena, Venus win; Davenport out

MIAMI, March 31 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Justine Henin, reigning champion Serena Williams and three-time winner Venus Williams advanced Monday at the Sony Ericsson Open.

Former top-ranked Lindsay Davenport was knocked out of the $3.77 million tennis tournament in Miami.

Henin, the reigning French and U.S. Open champ, beat Russian Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-2. Henin was last year's Miami runner-up to Serena, who will oppose the Belgian star here, again, in this year's quarterfinals.

Serena beat Estonian Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3 to set up the showdown with Henin. Serena is seeking her fifth title here in seven years, having won from 2002-04 and again last year.

Venus beat 17-year-old Dane Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 6-3. The American won this tournament in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Venus' quarterfinal opponent will be Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who posted a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over 16th-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer.

Davenport lost to Russian Dinara Safina 6-3, 6-4.