Sidney Lowe

Sidney Lowe, Minnesota's interim coach since Jan. 11, signed a three-year contract with the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The deal makes Lowe, 33, the second-youngest coach in NBA history and the Timberwolves' third coach in four years. Lowe, who took over after Jimmy Rodgers was fired, was 9-25 as interim coach. "Sometimes they say the hardest part is keeping the job," Lowe said. "The easiest part is getting it." Lowe is off to the best start of any Minnesota coach through 34 games.

Sidney Lowe always knew how to beat North Carolina as a player. The first-year coach proved he can also get the best of the Tar Heels from the sideline. The former North Carolina State point guard earned his first big victory as its coach when the Wolfpack upset No. 3 North Carolina, 83-79, on Saturday in just the kind of rivalry game he was hired to win. "It's one win, but it's a big win. I've never shied away from the rivalry of the three schools down here, and it's a big win," Lowe said.

Sidney Lowe's 135-game run as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves was marked by pouting players, undisciplined underachievers and lopsided losses. So he was fired Wednesday, along with assistants Jim Brewer and Chuck Davisson, as part of the sweeping changes planned by new owner Glen Taylor. No replacements were named. "It's not frustrating as an owner, it's frustrating as a fan," said Taylor, who on Aug. 5 agreed to buy the Timberwolves from original owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner.

Sidney Lowe's 135-game run as coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves was marked by pouting players, undisciplined underachievers and lopsided losses. So he was fired Wednesday, along with assistants Jim Brewer and Chuck Davisson, as part of the sweeping changes planned by new owner Glen Taylor. No replacements were named. "It's not frustrating as an owner, it's frustrating as a fan," said Taylor, who on Aug. 5 agreed to buy the Timberwolves from original owners Marv Wolfenson and Harvey Ratner.

Sidney Lowe always knew how to beat North Carolina as a player. The first-year coach proved he can also get the best of the Tar Heels from the sideline. The former North Carolina State point guard earned his first big victory as its coach when the Wolfpack upset No. 3 North Carolina, 83-79, on Saturday in just the kind of rivalry game he was hired to win. "It's one win, but it's a big win. I've never shied away from the rivalry of the three schools down here, and it's a big win," Lowe said.

The Minnesota Timberwolves named former Laker Jim Brewer and Sidney Lowe as assistant coaches. Brewer will double as director of player personnel.

The Vancouver Grizzlies hired Sidney Lowe as head coach and Andy Dolich as president of business operations Thursday, two moves the franchise hope will turn around losing ways on the court and at the box office. Lowe, 40, was a former head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Dolich was vice-president of Tickets.com, North America's second-largest ticketing organization.

Illinois basketball player Jamar Smith -- charged with drunk driving and leaving the scene of an accident -- turned himself in to authorities Wednesday in Champaign, Ill. Smith was processed and released after posting 10% of a $10,000 bond set by Judge Tom Difanis, authorities said. Defense attorney Mark Lipton said that Smith, 19, planned to plead not guilty to the charges and would request a jury trial.

The Minnesota Timberwolves believe they have found a solution to their latest problem. After losing nine games in a row, the Timberwolves came up with rookie Pooh Richardson and Sidney Lowe as the backcourt combination for a game at Minneapolis against the Houston Rockets. The two guards led the Timberwolves to a 108-91 victory over the Rockets before 27,661 Wednesday night at the Metrodome. Richardson had 18 points, and Lowe had 22 points and 13 assists as both played 48 minutes.

Jimmy Rodgers, who guided the Minnesota Timberwolves to only two victories in their last 18 games, has been fired, the team said Monday. "It's something I did not want to do," said Jack McCloskey, the team's general manager. "But it was certainly a decision I had to make." Assistant Sidney Lowe was named interim coach. Lowe, who will be 33 next week, is the NBA's youngest coach.

Sidney Lowe, Minnesota's interim coach since Jan. 11, signed a three-year contract with the Timberwolves on Wednesday. The deal makes Lowe, 33, the second-youngest coach in NBA history and the Timberwolves' third coach in four years. Lowe, who took over after Jimmy Rodgers was fired, was 9-25 as interim coach. "Sometimes they say the hardest part is keeping the job," Lowe said. "The easiest part is getting it." Lowe is off to the best start of any Minnesota coach through 34 games.

Significant progress was reported in NBA labor talks after the sides met for more than 11 hours Friday. Commissioner David Stern, union Director Billy Hunter and several owners and players met at a New York hotel for the first substantive talks in weeks on a new labor agreement to replace the seven-year deal expiring June 30. "We made significant progress today and tonight," Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said.

San Antonio Spur assistant P.J. Carlesimo interviewed for the Minnesota Timberwolves' coaching job during a break in the Western Conference finals. Timberwolves' owner Glen Taylor said he received permission from the Spurs to speak to Carlesimo on Friday, an off day for the Spurs in their series against Phoenix. "They had a couple of days off between games and we had asked for authorization," Taylor said. "So we flew down and it went well."