State sports briefs

Arkansas head coach Jimmy Dykes responds to a question during a news conference for the second round of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2015, in Waco, Texas. Arkansas plays Baylor on Sunday. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Arkansas head coach Jimmy Dykes responds to a question during a news conference for the second round of the NCAA women's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 21, 2015, in Waco, Texas. Arkansas plays Baylor on Sunday. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Jimmy Dykes has received a two-year contract extension as Arkansas’ women’s basketball coach after leading the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament in his first season on the job.

Dykes’ contract now runs through March 2020. His annual salary is $450,000.

The Razorbacks, down to nine scholarship players this season, finished 18-14, including 1-1 in the NCAA Tournament with a victory over Northwestern and a loss at Baylor. It was Arkansas’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012 and its second in the past 12 years.

“Jimmy has done a tremendous job in leading all aspects of our women’s basketball program,” Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said Thursday in a news release announcing the contract extension. “Last season we not only enjoyed competitive success, but made significant progress in building a comprehensive program committed to the development of our women’s basketball student-athletes to their fullest potential.

“Jimmy has the passion, knowledge and drive to help position Arkansas as one of the top women’s basketball programs in the nation.”

Dykes, a walk-on guard for Eddie Sutton’s Razorbacks in the 1980s, thanked Long and Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart for their support and said it’s a blessing to be able to coach at his alma mater.

“Our recruits and their families know that I will be at Arkansas for the long-term future and that if you want to be a part of something special, this is the place to be,” Dykes said in a statement.

Dykes, 53, has signed three junior college post players this spring to help bolster the Razorbacks’ roster, which has 15 players for next season, including five signees last fall.

Wiedower heads back to UALR

Coach Joe Foley is turning to a coach who helped him build a foundation for the UALR women’s basketball program to fill a sudden hole on his staff.

Steve Wiedower, who was an assistant at UALR in 2004-2009, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette on Thursday that he has resigned his post as Russellville High School’s girls basketball coach to become a UALR assistant again. Wiedower said his final day at Russellville is May 1, and he’ll begin at UALR on May 4.

Wiedower, whose best year at Russellville came in 2012 when it reached the Class 6A state final, said he left UALR in 2009 for a chance to coach his two daughters. Both have graduated from Russellville — Kaylee is a junior on the Harding women’s basketball team — and now Wiedower wanted a chance to get back into college.

Foley was not available for comment Thursday, but UALR Athletic Director Chasse Conque said Wiedower will replace Bobby Brasel, who recently finished his second year at UALR. Wiedower said he first spoke to Foley about the prospects last weekend.

Wiedower’s last season at UALR was in 2009, when UALR went to the WNIT. The Trojans have been to four NCAA Tournaments since then and twice have been to the second round.

“”It was tough, but it was enjoyable to see the program built,” Wiedower said. “We started having some success and now they’ve taken it to another level and hopefully we can take it to even another level now.”

— Troy Schulte

HORSE RACING

Arkansan to chair advisory group

Mark Lamberth, 65, a member of the Arkansas Racing Commission, became chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International on Thursday at the group’s conference in Tampa, Fla., bloodhorse.com reported.

Outgoing chairman John Ward Jr., executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, told bloodhorse.com Lamberth is the right man for the job.

“He will be a good leader at a time when we need to have compromise, which I believe will be his major point,” said

Lamberth, a thoroughbred owner since 1985, is one of five members of the Arkansas Racing Commission.

“We must always work to seek common ground, but we must paddle our own canoe and continue to address industry issues,” Lamberth said. “There are many inter-related issues that require cooperation.”

Lamberth told bloodhorse.com widespread adoption of the Controlled Therapeutic Medication Schedule and strict enforcement of penalties under the National Uniform Medication Program will remain priorities for RCI members.

Lamberth also said horse racing must be “profitable again” by growing pari-mutuel wagering and revenue. He listed an insufficient return to purses from some advance deposit wagering outlets, computer batch-betting, and a poor product at some racetracks, despite having gaming revenue for purses as issues for the industry.

“We must take care of our everyday fans,” Lamberth said. “We need a quality product to survive and prosper.”

RCI is charged with setting standards for racing regulation, medication policy and drug testing, among other things. It is made up of racing commissioners and regulatory officials from across the country.

COLLEGE ATHLETICS

Arkansas ranks 13th in Directors Cup

Arkansas was ranked No. 13 in the country in the final winter standings for the 2014-15 Learfield Sports Directors Cup released Thursday. The Razorbacks were second among SEC teams with 570.5 points.

The latest sport to score for Arkansas was the gymnastics team, which posted 52.5 points for qualifying for an NCAA regional. The Razorbacks picked up 100 points for their NCAA women’s indoor track and field national championship, the first women’s title for Arkansas in any sport. The men’s track and field team picked up 85 points for their third-place showing at the NCAA indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

The first spring standings will be released May 28.

Arkansas finished No. 28 in last year’s standings, and the Hogs were fourth among programs with 19 or fewer sponsored sports.

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